SOWING AND REAPING

You reap what you sow...

You reap more than you sow....

You reap later than you sow....

I don't recall where I first learned the above "Principle of the Harvest", but it has stuck with me through the years. I tried to teach it to my children as they were growing up. I remember one Sunday a few years ago, our pastor was preaching on this subject and giving the Biblical references for it. My daughter was astonished to learn this came from the Bible! She thought Mom had just made it up!

Funny thing is, Mom is still learning about this principle and what's even funnier is that I learned MORE about it yesterday from HER daughter....my precious granddaughter!

We were on the way to church and her music was playing. It is a cd of Christian songs for children. One of them is about the little boy who shared his lunch with Jesus. As the little boy on the cd sang :

One basket, two fishes, five loaves of barley bread....

I began to think of the story from the Bible and try to picture that scene in my head. The little boy singing on the cd continued telling about how Jesus prayed and suddenly there was plenty for everyone and everyone was full. Suddenly, something jumped out at me about that story! A principle that I don't think I had ever really related to THIS particular story before.

The principle of the harvest is definitely portrayed in this gospel account of one of the many miracles Jesus performed on earth. The little boy sowed unselfishness and generosity. He reaped the benefits of that, but so did everyone around him. He definitely reaped MORE than he sowed, too. But, what struck me anew and afresh this time was the fact that Jesus doesn't skimp when he responds to our needs.

He could have allowed each person to have just enough to stop the growling of their stomachs. But he didn't. He made sure each person was FULL and that there was even some left over!!!!!!! Listen from John's gospel:

And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples and the disciples to them that were sitting down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were FILLED, he said unto his disciples 'Gather up the fragments that remain that nothing be lost.' Therefore, they gathered them together and filled twelves baskets with the fragments....which remained OVER and ABOVE what they had eaten! John 6:11-13 KJV

Jesus doesn't skimp when He blesses! He doesn't just give us the 'bare minimum'. He doesn't give us just enough to shut us up or get us off his case. He goes above and beyond! He FILLS us with good things! He blesses us ABUNDANTLY!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with ALL [not just a few] spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ....in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace, WHEREIN HE HATH ABOUNDED TOWARD US IN ALL WISDOM AND PRUDENCE..." Ephesians 1: 3, 7-8 KJV

"And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come he might show the EXCEEDING riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus..." Ephesians 2: 6,7

"Now unto Him who is able to do EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY above all that we ask or think..." Ephesians 3: 20

"For if, when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, MUCH MORE being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" Romans 5: 10

"I will sing unto the Lord for He has dealt BOUNTIFULLY with me." Psalms 13: 6

"How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore, the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings, they shall be ABUNDANTLY SATISFIED........" Psalm 36: 7,8

These are just a few of the verses that proclaim God's generosity to us. We should realize that when we trust Him, put everything in His hands, He will not only just "get us by". Rather, He will lavish His love, His mercy, His grace and His blessings upon us. He is a generous God.

So the next time you sow, remember you will also REAP MORE THAN YOU SOW!!!!!!!! This should entice all of us to do our best, to give our all, as we serve the Lord. What is He asking you to do today? Give Him all you've got and then watch out!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Prove me now, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. " Malachi 3:10