This is part of our "expanding" effort.
I've heard many, many sermons on "Sowing and Reaping", and I'll admit, they sounded good to me at the time. There are a lot of versions out there, but the most common I've heard, are the ones that are given before an offering is taken. You know the one; sow money; you'll reap money. Oh, sure, they'll throw in a few other examples for good measure, like- kindness for kindness,or being a good friend for having a good friend. But, Jesus talks a whole lot about the kingdom of heaven, which he said, by the way "is at hand".
Galatians 6:7 That whatever a man sows, that and that only shall he reap. It seems to make perfect sense to the natural mind, taken with the above doctrine- that is , if you stop right there and don't read the next verse." For he who sows to the flesh, will from the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit , will of the Spirit reap life." There are only two things people can sow and reap from; the natural realm and death, or the Spiritual realm( or the Kingdom of Heaven) and life.
It would seem to me that money is definitely something from the natural world. ( None of those very large, and very sacrificial offerings multiplied back into my bank account ,by the way.) Jesus said you can't serve two masters, God and mammon(which, truthfully can be any thing from the natural world- and money is certainly symbolic of that.) Now if I am sowing money, to reap back a larger harvest of money- I am in essence only making my "god"(mammon) bigger. And consequently will reap bigger death/corruption.
So, how then do we know when we are sowing to the Spirit or the flesh? Well that's obvious, some might say. However, even if something looks like a good deed, it may not be sowing to the Spirit. Jesus said, I do only that which I see my father doing. If God did not say do it- it is dead works, man trying in his ability to please God ( i.e. the Law/ Religion). All of which is from,in, and belonging to the worldly kingdom. For the sons of God will be led by the Spirit of God (Rom.8:14). How liberating it is to not be slaves, serving a religious institution trying to be "good Christians" doing our duty. I can't tell you how many times I've jumped into serving in various church ministries without even consulting God, because it naturally seemed to me to be a pleasing thing to God. Proverbs 3:5,6 says not to lean on our own understanding or reasoning. " For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways , my ways" (Isaiah 55:8). We must discern, by the Spirit, which homeless person to help, which ministry to give to, or be a part of- otherwise, it will only bring discouragement, burnout, confusion-death.
Heather
