I have shifted gears a bit in my study to look into the word “sow”. I am wanting to learn more about what I am giving and receiving and the first passage I am reading in is found in Job.
“8As I have seen, those who plow iniquity
and sow trouble reap the same.”
— Job 4:8 (ESV)
I see here that when I give or sow I will get back or receive more of the same. Expecting for to be different is just that, expecting. Reality will be certainly different than my expectation. I will not ultimately receive that which is the opposite of what I am giving.
That last sentence above is something that I have to dive into a bit more as it may be a bit confusing in the beginning of what we reap based on what we sow. I see too often where the immediate return on the sowing of something is deceptive. I think of those who commit crimes who find themselves with a sudden windfall of great things like wealth and power, only to have it all come crashing down some time later when they are found out to have sowed in the realm of evil. The same can be said for those who are doing the will of the LORD where they sow great service and love for others only to not see any return immediately after, who are cared for later in their lives by someone giving that love back to them.
I have to be careful when looking into the reaping of what I am sowing and know that the immediate return may not be the return that is from the reaping at all. I have to remember that it is not about the return or the reaping that the sowing is done. I should not expect really any return other than the thanks from God for doing the work. I have to remember that it is not about me and that God will provide the return based on His plan and not my expectation.
My work here of sharing my thoughts on my Bible Study are an example of the expectation not meeting reality. I originally was hesitant in sharing my thoughts as I believed they were for me and not for others. Someone convinced me to share out of accountability to a small group and as time went on, I was more and more comfortable with my sharing. Yet, I was not getting any real acknowledgment of goodness that I was reaching people, and I gave thought to not sharing any longer and just keeping my thoughts between God and me. And then a friend caught me in the grocery store and one of the first things said was how he was continually impacted by my sharing and I was reinvigorated to continue. And now I am working on additional ways to share.
My expectation was one of immediate recognizable return and I believe maybe to be puffed up with how much I was doing. God in His infinite wisdom said no and that I was doing what was asked of me and I would be rewarded in the time and way that He saw fit. I was simply to sow and allow God to do His part and I would reap in due time.
I will reap what I sow. Sometimes that return on my giving will not be immediate and yet I must continue with the sowing as the LORD has instructed. I will reap that which is right and due based on my fulfillment of the work assigned me by God. I simply sow that which I have been entrusted and allow the LORD to do His work and provide the harvest He has for me in His time.
What is it that you are sowing and expecting something different than what you receive? Are you seeing a return on your giving that does not seem right, in the moment? What if you were to just do the work and allow God to provide the return in His time as opposed to expecting things to go the way you want them?
Trevor's Thoughts 