Devotional: March - April, 2009

Sow What You Want?

I planted a flower bed last summer.  I never thought that I would do that.  It just wasn’t my thing.  I guess things change when you get married and have your own house!  I’ve found myself really looking forward to warmer weather and my flowers peeking back up through the soil.  In fact, we were just in Florida and on our cruise for a total of 3 weeks and for some reason I was thinking it would be time for the flowers to bloom by the time I got back home.  Instead I was greeted with below freezing temperatures and snow!  I guess my desire overshadowed good sense!

I’ve been thinking a lot the last few days about sowing and reaping.  There are a lot of references in the Word about this concept.  For instance, “what a man sows, he’ll reap”, “do unto others…”, “give and it shall be given”, “use your talents and you’ll get more”, etc.  It’s a really simple idea, but at times I forget how important it is. 

The first thing to keep in mind is that we are always sowing, whether intentionally or unintentionally.  With that being the case, it is important to make a conscious effort to sow only things we want to reap!  Then we have to recognize that what we sow may not reap a harvest immediately.  Just like my flowers, you have to wait for the right season to see your seed grow.  Once it gets a little warmer, I will need to water my garden.  That water is like our faith.  Once you have planted the seed you have to water it with faith believing it will grow. 

Here are some examples.  Matthew and I love to give and have in turn seen God provide for us miraculously.  For instance, while we don’t have children at this point in our lives, we know we may someday.  So right now, we enjoy blessing other people’s children and know that God will take care of ours in turn, even if it is many years down the road.

Another aspect of sowing is how we treat people.  I heard a preacher awhile back say to sow into people’s lives what you would like to receive.  For example, if you want your husband to listen to you, listen to him.  If you want your wife to respect you, sow respect into her life.  If you want to receive love, sow love, and the list goes on.  Sometimes it just seems easier to nag the people whose behavior you do not like and complain to the people around you, but the only return you’ll get from that is reaping nagging and complaining! 

I guess what makes it challenging is that often we don’t see immediate results of this concept.  It’s kind of like my garden.  I expected flowers in March when it is plainly too early for that!  But the flowers will come up in time and you will reap the things you sow. 

Take some time today to do for someone else what you would like them to do for you.  Speak a kind word when it would be easier to speak a harsh one.  Listen when you don’t have time and would rather cut someone off.  Give of your resources in an extraordinary way.  You may not reap a huge harvest today, but in time, oh, imagine the flowers!