| Christian Life and Doctrine | August 1970 |
Sowing to the Spirit
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” —Galatians 6:7-10
IN THE above text Paul makes a very practical application of what is involved in sowing to the Spirit. “As we have therefore opportunity,” he writes, “let us do good.” The connecting word “therefore” indicates that what follows is the climax of the thought which precedes. The complete lesson then is plain; namely, that if we do not become weary in “well doing,” but continue doing good unto all as we have opportunity and especially to the household of faith, we shall reap “everlasting life.”
This seems to be a simple formula for sowing to the Spirit, yet when all its implications are considered it tells us concisely what it really means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. The “Spirit” referred to by Paul is, of course, the Holy Spirit of God. It is by his Spirit that God leads his people in the way he would have them go. To “sow to the Spirit” means to conduct our lives in harmony with God’s divinely revealed purposes for us.
God’s Spirit reflects the qualities of his character, hence when we sow to the Spirit we are endeavoring to be like God, to be motivated by the principles which govern his conduct. There is an opposing spirit which is very dominant in the affairs of men; that is, the spirit of Satan. The spirit of Satan is selfish, causing those under its influence to seek first their own interests irrespective of how others may be affected. The Spirit of God is one of unselfishness, prompting those who are under its influence to sacrifice themselves that others may be blessed. It is this disposition which ultimately will rule in the hearts of all mankind when restored to the image of God.
The followers of Jesus are now in training for the task of restoring mankind to harmony with God during the Millennium, hence the necessity of their becoming enthusiastic about the divine viewpoint of love which they are to impart to those with whom they deal in the kingdom. Self-seeking is entirely foreign to the true Christian viewpoint. Those who are governed by the “self first” outlook are sowing to the flesh, even though their characters may appear to be above reproach, and even though they may also be earnest in Bible study and prayer.
When the Spirit of God fills our lives we will think of others first, and ourselves last. This does not mean that we will not give all diligence to make our own calling and election sure, but it does mean that we will give this “all diligence” in God’s way, which is the way of unselfishness. To work out our own salvation means that we will be zealous in doing and being what God wants, and when we realize that God wants us to be unselfishly interested in others it becomes plain that the whole divinely approved method of working for ourselves is by working for others. Certainly it is obvious that the best method of attaining to the standard of love is by practicing love, and we cannot practice love without seeking to promote the welfare and interest of others.
Thus we see that “sowing to the Spirit” and “doing good,” as these expressions are used in our text, are practically synonymous. This does not mean that a frenzy of activity in “working for the Lord” is sowing to the Spirit. An unselfish viewpoint of the Christian is the point of first consideration. If our viewpoint is one of unselfish desire to pass the joys and blessings of the truth on to others, then we will be looking for opportunities to do so, and especially unto the household of faith.
Paul says that we should not be “weary” in well-doing. It is contrary to the tendencies of the fallen flesh to sacrifice time, strength, and means unselfishly for the good of others, and if we listen to the will of the flesh we would not continue in such a course. But to yield to the flesh in this, as in other matters, would be sowing to the flesh, with a corresponding disappointment in reaping. This is in keeping with Jesus’ words to his disciples, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matt. 16:25) In keeping with this is the statement by Paul in Hebrews 13:16, which reads, “But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”