You Reap What You Sow

Overflow with Craig Booker

Note: A lot of the material is inspired by Craig Groeschel's book. Each week, I take concepts from Pastor Craig Groeschel's book, The Power To Change, and apply them to brain health.

We’ve been talking a lot about habits. We’ve probably said a time or two that habits shape your life.

You may have thought to yourself, “Where does God tell us that in the Bible?”

Short answer

Galatians 6

“…God doesn’t use the word habits. He uses the metaphor of seeds.” [1]

“In biblical times, people lived in an agricultural society.” [1]

“People back then would understand the concept of planting seeds and harvesting crops…” [1]

“Their lives and economy were based largely by on farming.” [1]

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:7-9).

Let’s establish some definitions: [1]

• To sow means to plant-to put seed in the ground.
• To reap means to gather the fruit the result of the seed planted.

So the passage starts, “Do not be deceived.” [1]

“The idea is: don’t be led astray. Don’t be fooled, or stupid.” [1]

“It continues, ‘God cannot be mocked.’ The Greek word translated mocked means to snub or thumb your nose at someone. You can do that to someone, but not God. Don’t be deceived, God cannot be mocked. You might fool a lot of people, but youre not going to fool God.” [1]

“‘A man reaps what he sows’ That’s what we need to understand and not be stupid about.” [1]

What does that mean? [1]

• You will harvest what you plant.
• You will get out what you put in.
• Your outcomes will be determined by your inputs.
• The results of your life will be based on the decisions you make, the habits you stake, and the habits you break.

Sowing seeds to the flesh vs the spirit [1]

“There’s a law at work. Not a law like ‘You must do this!’ More like how gravity is a law of nature. It’s how the world works. You don’t have to like it. You don’t have to agree with it.” [1]

“Gravity work for you, and on you the same way it works with everyone.” [1]

“God tells us there is a law of sowing and reaping.” [1]

“True in agriculture. True in life.” [1]

“If you plant good habits, you’ll get good outcomes. If you plant bad habits, don’t be deceived and expect good outcomes.” [1]

“If you don’t like what you’re reaping, change what you’re sowing. If you don’t like the harvest, change the seed.” [1]

Exercise

“Here’s the assignment we just covered. Use this pattern for as many areas of life as you need to address.” [1]

God, I have sown [BLANK] and have reaped [BLANK] because of my habit of [BLANK].

To change this outcome, I need to start or stop my habit of [BLANK], so help me to plant the seeds of [BLANK] so l can reap [BLANK].

Principle

“If you don’t like what you’re reaping, change what you’re sowing. If you don’t like the harvest, change the seed.” [1]

“You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature.” [1]

But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. -Galatians 6:7-8 NLT

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Sources:

[1] Groeschel, C. (2023). The Power to Change: Mastering the Habits That Matter Most. Zondervan.

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