“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
EM Bounds once wrote: “He who is little with God is little for God.” There is ample truth to this axiom. The amount of time we spend with God directly correlates to the depth and presence of Him in our life. Consequently, our impact for God and His kingdom. Time is a treasured commodity, and where we invest it is up to us. Thus, the wisdom in the exhortation, “he that soweth to the flesh.”
A farmer with seed in his hand is as much an investor as a man on Wall Steet. Where and when he sows the seed will determine the probability of a good crop come harvest. The time we have been given is like the seed in hand. Where we choose to spend it is the seed sown. The worldly-minded person spends little (or no) time with God. They do not concern themselves with God’s laws, God’s way, God’s wills, or God’s wishes. The Bible is a foreign object to them and the act of prayer a last resort. There is no determination or longing desire to fellowship with the saints. Words such as: holiness, piety, and godliness are met with neglect, or openly mocked and disdain. The reason they are little with God is because they are big on themselves. The days and years are considered theirs to enjoy altogether. Their career path, spouse, money, possessions, health, and comforts of life; all regarded as exclusive to them. Perhaps in an occasion of distress or weakness the light of the gospel might penetrate, but only in moments. The worst of it all is that this is nothing more than a grand allusion of Satan. The truth is that they stand sinners before God, living in rebellion against the truth of their conscious and at the end of the road awaits hell and judgment. This is sowing to the flesh. Thankfully, we have another path. Another field in which we can invest our precious time. Our precious seed. The Spirit. The Spiritual man is opposite the worldly man. His heart and life have been regenerated, revived, reborn by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. His past sins removed in repentance and his spiritual life born by the Holy Spirit. They walk in the light, love God, devour His Word, live for Christ, emulate His life and teachings. They seek fellowship with Christ and His Christians. They long for others to do the same. Their business is God’s business, their life is “hid with Christ in God.” The money they have: God’s. The house they own: God’s. Their relationships, family, friends, career, free time; all that they are His God’s and Christ’s. Sanctified are they, and sanctified they live. Thankfulness and gratitude are shallow adjectives to describe so great the depth they feel towards the Savior who reached down and brought them out of “darkness into the marvelous light.” To worship, to learn, to wait, to operate and exist in a loving relationship with the Almighty. To experience the joy of the Lord and draw strength from it. These are they who seek God early and often. Who sow to the Spirit and will reap life everlasting.
It’s what manner it is not for us to say how God will use those that sow to the Spirit. As he sees fit, he will raise up a preacher, teacher, intercessor, helper and much more. A worldly man can fill a building full of people and call it a church, but only a true servant of God can build up a church of God. A sacrificial, holy, God-loving, Holy Ghost following church is the need of today. The promise of life everlasting begins here on earth, and the earnest of the promise is given by the Spirit. That Spirit is the field which we must each choose to sow into. Tell me, who among us is willing to take Jesus at his word? To deny self, take up the cross, and follow. The choice falls to each of us.
