How To Understand Biblical Sowing and Reaping

In the Holy Bible, it states in a variety of scriptures, that the deeds we perform during our life causes us to reap a similar harvest in this lifetime and in the afterlife to come. The type of seed that is sown is the type of harvest that is reaped when those deeds are returned to us. The steps below help to better define this process as stated in Bible scriptures and as it is also understood by the world in general.

The world recognizes sowing and reaping. There are a number of terms one will hear that refer to the fact that people in general understand that a person’s deeds will be reflected back toward them and that they will receive a reciprocal reward from them. Statements such as “pay it forward”, “that’s going to come back to bite you”, “you got what you deserved” and “you’ll regret that someday”, all point to a general understanding by people that we are rewarded for the deeds we perform in life.

Some who practice eastern religions refer to this spiritual law as “karma”. Sowing and reaping is God’s law and cannot be broken. According to the Bible, God himself is the one who created this spiritual law and scriptures warn that the results of one’s actions cannot be escaped if they are negative ones.

On the other hand, the Bible also promises that blessings are returned to those who perform positive acts of charity, kindness and other good deeds toward others. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” "Will it be well when He examines you? Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man? 2 Corinthians 9:6 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Jesus told believers in him that rewards they gain in Heaven depend upon how they live as Christians in this world. Salvation is eternal life that Christ stated would be received by believers in him (John 3:16) and is not something one gains through deeds but is God’s free gift (Eph 2:9). There are, however additional rewards Christians will receive that come from their faithfulness to perform good deeds on behalf of the gospel of Christ during their natural lifetimes. "And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15) “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”

The rewards Christians may receive in the present or future are, in essence, “icing on the cake” but blessings they can look forward to, as they live as witnesses for Christ during their lives on earth.