Reap Eternal Life

    I am reading the book, Boundaries, by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. On pages 110-112, the authors write about the principle of The Law of Sowing and Reaping. In the Bible, Galatians 6:7-8 discuss this principle in this way, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

    Cloud and Townsend discuss the idea, in this way, on page 111, "Rescuing a person from the natural consequences of his behavior enables him to continue in irresponsible behavior...Boundaries force the person who is doing the sowing to also do the reaping...Confronting an irresponsible person is not painful to him; only consequences are." They mention how people will tell them that they have talked to the person about their behavior, but talking to an irresponsible person is futile. The Bible tells us, "Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you" (Proverbs. 9:8). 

    Why does a person hate those trying to give them guidance and direction? They want to continue in their sin! They will turn the situation around and make you the bad guy for "lecturing them," "treating them like a child," or "being intolerant," but the truth is they are enjoying the fruits of their labors. They have sown a wicked life and want to engage freely without anyone "shaming them," or "putting them on a guilt trip." 

    I, frankly, am not pointing fingers, because I was swept up in sin, in my youth, and didn't have any need for anyone else's advice, and guess what? I reaped what I sewed and the harvest was plentiful. Even though I found many to blame and lots of excuses to make, the truth was I was swimming in the mire of the consequences of my sins. As a Christian for the past 30 plus years, I still sin and I still look for ways to not have to reap what I sow. I want an easy way out of my consequences, but that's not God's way out. He wants me to learn from my mistakes, and not return to those old habits, attitudes, and ways. 

    If I skip the line and make a quick escape from the the consequences of my sin, I lose the opportunity to build my Christian character. Romans 5:3-4 explains how that character is developed, "...we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." So to truly help irresponsible people in our lives, we need to "stop interrupting the law of sowing and reaping" (pg. 112 of Boundaries). 

2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.