Sowing and Reaping

They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They have dug a pit before me;
Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.
(Psalms 57:6 NKJV)

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:7-8 NKJV)

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses....
Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 6:14-15; 7:12 NKJV)

If a child is offered a reward for desirable behavior, is it bribery or motivation? It would be nice if children were simply inclined to do the right thing. But like adults, their natural inclination is to do as pleases themselves rather than as they should.

God has implemented certain principles in His universe. Gravity. Death. What goes around comes around. However unbiblical that cliche sounds, it is supported by Scripture. If you sow seeds of selfishness you can't expect to reap blessing.

We want to be motivated by goodness and the desire to do right. Sometimes we are. If we are not, we would do well to remember not only should we do unto others as we want done to ourselves, but whatever we do to others is likely to come back to us, in one form or another.

Father in Heaven, You are good. Everything that comes from You is good. Please enable us to be more like You—to be better than we want to be. When we struggle to be selfless, please remind us of blessings found in sacrifice that cannot be had in immediate gratification.

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Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy