“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:8
The success of any crop is directly dependent on soil, seed, and weather. These factors can be supplemented, even manipulated; but ultimately, unless you have good soil, seed, and weather; you will not make a good crop. The absolute outcome of farming and the timeless need, makes it a perfect analogy for teaching. Our Savior knew this and used it often; his disciples did the same. If we pay attention and allow the Spirit to open our eyes, this physical world will teach us of the spiritual world.
“Sowing to the flesh” will produce corrupted fruit if fruit at all. Those that sow to the flesh will work and labor in earnest, or in outright disobedience, only to find a poor harvest in the latter rain. That which is sown is ourselves: we sow our time, energy, effort; always investing in “the flesh” in hopes it will yield fruit. This leads us to the obvious question: what is “the flesh”? It is the field that many heartbroken persons sow unto. It is the field of sin and defeat, sometimes masked in doctrinal platitudes and flowery speech. When Paul wrote these words he was writing to a Galatian church who was influenced back to the Law of Moses, after experiencing the redemption in Christ. A people who had been hindered by false doctrine and teaching. Paul knew well that only through faith in Christ could a person experience: justification, sanctification, and redemption. There was no salvation offered in the Mosaic Law only a remembrance of sins and a reminder that you were still bound by the nature to perform them. A nature that only brought the works of the flesh: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, etc. All manner of dark deeds that were performed as a result of the hideous and monstrous iniquity that existed within man; and the Law was subject to this, but Christ brought liberty from it. When they were persuaded to follow a doctrine that did not offer deliverance from sin, they were simultaneously persuaded to sow to their flesh. This is both the flesh and sowing to it. “This persuasion cometh not of Him that calleth you.” There are many who are sowing to the flesh by living in open sin, and I dare say there are many more who are sitting in church pews across this land, sowing to the flesh, all the while thinking that they are following the will of God. They may not be laboring in the field of the flesh as hard as others, but they are workers of that soil nonetheless. It is likely, this is done for no other reason than that is what they have been taught to do! “He that soweth to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.” Search your heart: is there unrest? Are you discontent and wandering? Driven to the work(s) of the flesh by uncontrollable desire? All the while wanting to please God but finding only despair? It’s not your fault (unless you remain in ignorance)! The seed is being sow in the wrong field and the fruit thereof is corrupted.
“Sowing to the Spirit” will bring life everlasting. It is the Spirit that we need to invest ourselves in. The faith in Jesus Christ; that he is the Son of God, that His words are true, and that he can “deliver us out of darkness and translate us into the kingdom of His dear son.” In short, Jesus can convert you and sanctify you! He can live within you and make you a new creature! Then your days will be spent overcoming sin and sowing seed in the field of righteousness to reap the fruit of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
