“Reflections on Cause and Effect” ~ ✨
The Apostle Paul said, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously,” and this is truly trustworthy (2 Corinthians 9:6). There are many trustworthy words, and there are also many who offer unpalatable advice. Looking broadly at Generations X, Y, and Z, the number of people choosing to ‘take shortcuts’ is increasing with each generation. Back in our days as youngsters, the mantras at home and school were: “If one does not exert oneself in youth, one will regret it in old age”; or “You reap what you sow,” and so on. Now, the mantra for young people is: “The more you play games, the better your chances of winning.” Trends dominate education; when trends enter the home, they also dominate family education. I’ve heard parents say, “What era is this now! Talking about these things is already outdated!” It’s not surprising for worldly people to say this; but when believers say this, it shows that they are still worldly people.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding” (Psalm 111:10) is not bound by era; because God’s mantras are everlasting. Therefore, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” is an eternally unchanging golden verse (cf. Proverbs 11:24-25). I understood this principle in my youth and followed it, enabling me to pass through valley after valley of low points, climb over mountain after mountain, and never came up empty-handed in any challenge. I do not use modern values to measure what is worthwhile and what is not. If you calculate according to modern orientations, you will become calculating; calculating your own goodness and others’ evil, and in the end, everything comes to nothing. For those who believe, God’s word is a lamp to their feet and a light to their path; they no longer hold fleshly values. What they have is the practice of God’s commands.
Believers in the end times read these words — “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” from a narrow perspective. They refer it to monetary giving; in other words, to encourage good deeds. However, if applied broadly, this saying can also extend to dealing with evil deeds, meaning whoever sows much evil will reap a large harvest of evil consequences. Thus, Paul also says, “A man reaps what he sows.” The Bible warns believers that those who sow to please their sinful nature will reap destruction, but those who sow to please the Spirit will reap eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8).
Regarding the quantity sown, the principle “whoever sows generously will also reap generously” first comes from the teaching of the Lord Jesus. He said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38). The meaning within these words also encourages believers to do good; those who give generously will receive generously. Those who willingly and cheerfully give money will find their ability to do good increased; and the righteous fruit stored up in heaven will certainly multiply.
As for the principle of “reaping what you sow,” in the Old Testament era, God had already told His people through various figures. For example, Solomon, King of Israel, said, “Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken” (Proverbs 22:8); the prophet Hosea said, “But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil” (Hosea 10:13). The lesson here points out that the law of sowing and reaping traces back to God’s righteousness.
Thus, the Bible urges people not to deceive themselves, because God cannot be mocked. Yet, it is the way of the world that honest advice grates on the ear, and self-deception is the norm. In today’s world, those who plant wickedness are everywhere, and the first victims of “reaping the consequences” are often not the sowers themselves, but those harmed by them. For example, modern wisdom teaches that if you want to sow little and reap much, or sow short and reap quickly, you must “take shortcuts.” Taking shortcuts means not following the natural ecological laws for cultivation, using all kinds of pesticides, chemical feeds, etc., that harm health, so that the harvest of farmers and merchants is full, but the health of consumers is precarious. Unscrupulous businesses harm people’s livelihoods, and ordinary folks are left with no choice. Coming to this point, one cannot help but sigh: if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? (cf. Psalm 11:3)
Ordinary people cannot do much, but believers are to be the light of the world, not simply going with the flow or compromising to survive. Those believers in positions of authority or who are wealthy — their honest and reliable good deeds can shine like light among people and have the effect of leading the congregation. The prudent understand that “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” and believers should further understand that “whoever sows generously will also reap generously” is the result of a believer receiving grace, not the condition for it. Because, all that we have is first received from the blessings God gives.
Giving is a spiritual act of fellowship, our faithful and generous response to God’s love. God does not measure wealth by how much we possess, but by how much we are willing to give. The Lord said, “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” (Matthew 25:29). This means that we are to be conduits for money, not reservoirs hoarding it. Those who love money will be tempted and wander from the faith, pierced with many griefs. Conversely, the most excellent way to experience God’s indescribable grace and gifts is to give wholeheartedly, which will allow you to taste the blessing that “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
From ancient times until now, those who follow the way bear good fruit, those who oppose the way reap ruin. We must do good, be rich in good deeds, be generous and willing to share, storing up for ourselves a firm foundation for the coming age, so that we can take hold of the life that is truly life. For those who sow to their sinful nature, destruction awaits them. The wealthy in this present age who are not generous in giving will find it harder to enter the kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24).
All things are created by God; He is the source of everything. No cause, no effect. No effect, no cause. This also means: No grace, no effect. No effect, no grace. No blessing fails to come from God. The true giver of grace is God, and we serve as a bridge between the Giver and the recipients. If we do this correctly, we will become double recipients. We receive grace from God; thus, we are the first recipients. Then, we transmit God’s grace to the other end of the bridge, and the loving response from the people at that end makes us the second recipients.
“Whoever sows generously will also reap generously” – placed in Scripture, it is a lesson; placed in the heart, it is an ideal; placed in life, it is life itself. Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honour (Psalm 112:9).
Finally, I conclude this sharing with the following poem:
“Reaping What One Sows” ✨
Those who give freely, gain even more.
Those who refrain from sparing, avoid poverty.
Those who refresh others, are themselves refreshed.
Those who hoard grain, are not blessed.
Those who plead for evil, evil befalls them.
Those who earnestly seek good, find grace overflowing.
Those who trust in riches, harbour disaster for their lives.
Those who are righteous, rely on the Lord —
Find blessing manifesting His spirit.
✨✨💖 ~
en yan hua fang 