We Harvest What We Plant
Galatians 6:6-10 NLT
6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
Examine the scriptures:
Galatians 6:6-10 NLT
We Harvest What We Plant
6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
More from Paul:
1 Corinthians 9:11, 14, 15 NLT
11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?
14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.
15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now.
Some teachers who teach the Good News choose not to pursue these rights.
Philippians 4:14-19 NLT
14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
- Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. (Galatians 6:6 NLT)
Teachers or pastors getting paid for their services is not the primary theme of this passage of scripture.
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God.
You will always harvest what you plant.
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 NLT (giving to the church in Jerusalem)
6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!
- Share with others because you want to share with them, not in response to pressure. Give cheerfully.
More scripture relating to reaping what you plant:
Job 4:8 NLT
8 My experience shows that those who plant trouble
and cultivate evil will harvest the same.
Proverbs 1:31-33 NLT
31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,
choking on their own schemes.
32 For simpletons turn away from me—to death.
Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
33 But all who listen to me will live in peace,
untroubled by fear of harm.”
Proverbs 22:8 NLT
8 Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster,
and their reign of terror will come to an end.
Hosea 10:12 NLT
12 I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,
and you will harvest a crop of love.
Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,
for now is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come
and shower righteousness upon you.’
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 NLT
12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
- You will always harvest what you plant.
Remember, some harvests take time.
8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature
We have a sinful nature.
Romans 7:18 NLT
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
There is nothing good in our sinful nature.
will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature.
Sin always corrupts.
A sinful nature progressively gets worse.
Romans 6:23 NLT
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
A sinful nature leads to death.
Romans 8:12-14 NLT
12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
Christians have no obligation to do what their sinful nature urges you to do.
Galatians 5:19-21 NLT
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Those who live by the dictates of their sinful nature, will die.
- Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature.
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- We all have a sinful nature.
- There is nothing good in our sinful nature.
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But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
Go back to chapter 5.
Galatians 5:1-14 NLT
5:1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
5 But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. (Salvation through Jesus Christ)
13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
- Live to please the Spirit. (A primary theme of this passage.)
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.
Don’t allow sinful behavior to creep in.
Don’t become legalistic.
Don’t yield to temptations.
Don’t give up.
Luke 18:1 NLT
18:1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
- Don’t get tired of doing what is good. Always pray and never give up.
10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
- Our primary focus should be on serving other believers, but not to the exclusion of people outside the church.
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- Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. (Galatians 6:6 NLT)
- Share with others because you want to share with them, not in response to pressure. Give cheerfully.
- You will always harvest what you plant.
- Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature.
We all have a sinful nature.
There is nothing good in our sinful nature.
- Live to please the Spirit.
- Don’t get tired of doing what is good. Always pray and never give up.
- Our primary focus should be on serving other believers, but not to the exclusion of people outside the church.
