A Spiritual Crop

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 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. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:7-10

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? … You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written. Romans 2:1-24

You always have time to do what's right.

Every decision you make is sowing something you will reap in the future. When you sow spiritual seeds, you will reap spiritual food you can feed yourself and others with in the future. If you continue planting good spiritual seeds and nourishing the spiritual crops you have growing, you will have a steady supply of spiritual food. The more you practice sowing, caring for, and harvesting spiritual crops, the more naturally you will continue in that production. As you set your fields in order, you are then able to advise other farmers on their crops, but your fields have to be well maintained for your advice to be of any value.

You have to do what you expect others to do.

As you look at your neighbors’ fields, you can see that sewing, reaping and eating fleshly food is unhealthy while producing spiritual food is healthy. Although it is easier to tell your neighbor what is wrong with his fields, you can only manage your own field. Anything you see wrong in your neighbors’ fields that you are not working to correct in your fields is something you need to keep to yourself until you are ready to work on your own fields. When you have mastered the planting, growing and harvesting of spiritual crops in your fields, you are then able to advise others on their fields.

Be your own sermon illustration. 

What you produce in your field is readily visible to your neighbors. Your fields will illustrate what you sew. If you sew to the flesh you will have fleshly crops growing in your field; if you sew to the spirit, you will have spiritual crops growing in your field. You will live out of the crops that plant whether or not they are the crops that you want or the crops that you study. And your crops will have an influence on the soil, which will influence your neighbors’ crops. So sew to the spirit, so you may reap of the spirit and have spiritual food to feed yourself with.