Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
In today’s passage, we see the continuation of Paul’s admonition regarding how to use the freedom we have in Christ. Grace has given us incredible freedom, but he warned us in chapter five not to use that freedom as an excuse to live sinfully. The consequences are clear in today’s verses – if we sow to the flesh (sinful behavior), then we will reap the corruption that goes with it.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul explained that grace is so big that some people will mistake it for a free pass to indulge in sin. To the contrary, Paul explains, grace doesn’t lead us to sin; it gives us power over sin. If we make the mistake of jumping into sin because we think grace covers us, then we should expect to reap a sin harvest. The law of sowing and reaping is real.
The wrong theology in this case is to say that God punishes us for a sinful lifestyle. That’s not what Paul is teaching. He is teaching that there is a law in the earth of sowing and reaping. The seeds we plant produce harvest. If we plant apple seeds, then we should expect an apple tree and more apples. This is true with our behavior as well. If we sow sin, we reap sin results. It’s not punishment – it’s a system. By the same token, if we sow to the Spirit, then we reap Spirit results. The choice is ours.
This is why Paul says not to grow weary in doing well. Harvest doesn’t usually come immediately. It takes time, but if we are patient and consistent, the results will emerge. The truth of this concept applies both to our lifestyles and our finances. By blessing those who teach the gospel of grace and “doing good to those who are of the household of faith,” there is a harvest. Sowing into the Kingdom financially produces financial Kingdom results. Our God is the God of more than enough. If you want Kingdom results, sow Kingdom seeds.
Grace isn’t passive. We are called to do good to all. Goodness has action attached to it. It isn’t simply the absence of bad. It is the presence of Kingdom work. Braving grace is intentional. Paul didn’t just sit on his grace revelation – he spent his life sharing it with the world. We are reaping the harvest of his work even now. Brave grace. Do good. Sow and reap. Live to the Spirit. Recall the Great Commission – GO!
Braving Grace 