Sowing & Reaping Part 1: Heavenly Reward Zone

The Bible teaches us that whatever we sow we will also reap (Galatians 6:7). This series of posts will focus on that concept in general, and focus in on several areas in our lives where we can sow the right seed, and reap a harvest of rewards and benefits from God...

I find it interesting sometimes to sit and listen to people talk about the benefits of living in God's kingdom. At times, you'd think coming to Christ and living for Him was tantamount to winning the megabucks lotto. Don't get me wrong, I'm a firm believer that walking in God's ways is the best life to live, and as David said in Psalm 16:11, in God's presence there is fullness of joy and at His right hand pleasures forevermore. David also said not to forget all the benefits of God in Psalm 103:2. But this same David also spoke of putting himself in the position of blessing in 2 Samuel 22:20-28. Let's examine a few portions of this passage:

The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. (v 21)

I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight. (vv 24 & 25)

To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. (vv 26 & 27)

What was David doing? He was sowing seeds of righteousness, obedience, and faithfulness. That's why he reaped a harvest of blessing from God. Out of curiosity, where would people get the understanding that we come to Christ and it's smooth sailing after that, regardless of how we conduct our lives? Some people think we can commit ourselves to God in prayer one time and then live any old way we please, but these verses sharply contrast that idea. David is clear that God rewards according to behavior. Good parents will love their children no matter what, but shouldn't (and good parents don't) reward bad behavior with candy, toys, and privileges. Instead, they train their children by establishing a system of rewards and punishments based on a meritorious system of behavior...

It's the same with God, and this is consistent throughout scripture. Hebrews 11:6 tells us God is a rewarder of those that "diligently seek Him," while James 4:8 says to draw close to God and He will draw close to us. Again and again the scripture tells us that in order to live in the zone of blessings and rewards, we need to make a conscious effort to be there. It doesn't happen simply because we got saved way back when.

It's entirely possible to be saved and make it all the way to Heaven, but live a life that's far below our potential because we fail to live in that blessing zone. For instance, the Bible teaches us to work hard and provide for ourselves and our family (2 Thess 3:10-12, 1 Tim 5:8). Well, if we choose rather to be lazy and rely on charity of others or the government dole, we might well be saved, but not be able to make our mortgage payment. If we want God to bless us, we need to give him something to work with.

If we want blessings and rewards in our family, we should follow the Bible's prescription for raising a family, if we desire spiritual blessings and gifts, we should see what God requires to step into that zone. The list goes on and on, but I think you get the point. We need to do our part, and God will do His. Again, I end with a scripture already mentioned, James 4:8:

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. (NLT)

As we progress further in this serious, we'll explore various areas where we can sow into our lives, and reap a harvest of rewards and benefits in God. It's all about getting into that heavenly reward zone!!!

Eyes On The Prize

To often, we Christians become so focused on things around us, noise and distractions, that we can't focus on what's truly important. The Bible gives us the prescription for where our attention should be:

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV)

Our problem, most of the time, is that we're so easily distracted by the cares of this life. Don't get me wrong, no one is immune to this tendency, and even as I write this blog, I know I'm as guilty as anyone. However, the parable of the sower tells us that the fruit of God's word (the seed) can be choked out by the cares of this life and deceitfulness of riches (the thorns) <See Mark 4: 1-23>

Take heart, even Peter struggled with this issue. Remember Matthew 14 where Jesus walks on the water and Peter asks to join him? Everything was going fine until Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and on his circumstances and surroundings (see Matt 14:30). The same holds true for the rich young ruler who looked Jesus in the eyes and then turned away because Jesus asked him to give up his riches (Luke 18:22).

We need to focus on Jesus Christ. He warns us that trials and tribulations will come. He never promised a bed of roses for those who follow him. His word also teaches us that we are obligated to provide for our family (I Tim 5:8), seek to please our loved ones (I Cor 7:33), and live productive lives in this world (Ecc 10:18). But those things should not distract us from the primary focus, our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In Luke 10:39-42 we see that Martha was busy serving (which we're commanded to do by the way) but Jesus told her that Mary had chosen that "good part." Mary had been sitting at Jesus' feet. Martha was right to serve and be focused on those things, but not to the point of neglecting her relationship with Jesus Christ.

Let's regroup, refocus, and redouble our efforts to be in true relationship with Jesus Christ. When we're walking with Him like we should, so many other things in life truly fall into place...

The Church: A Dividing Line of Protection

Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David. (2 Chronicles 3:1, NIV)

I noticed something interesting in reading this passage, something I'd never seen before. The location of the temple construction was a very specific place, the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite...

Now, anyone who studies the building of the temple knows nothing was done haphazardly or willy-nilly. Rather, specific instruction was given to every detail, right down to the most miniscule component of the temple. So, it's very interesting to see that this location was chosen. Let's get a little background here:

In the later years of his life, David angered the Lord by taking an unauthorized census of the people. As a result, he was given 3 choices for punishment. David asked that he fall into God's hands rather than the hands of man, so God sent a plague up on the people. The angel of the Lord struck down 70,000 people. David repented and the angel stayed his hand. Then David purchased the land and built an altar at the place the angel stopped, that place was the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (see 2 Sam 24).

Now we return to the building of the temple and see that it was constructed at this place of separation, with the plague on one hand and the mercy of God on the other...

This is a beautiful picture of the church. We, the church, are the temple of God in the world today (1 Cor 3:16). On the outside is the judgment of God and the unchecked battering that comes from this world of sin. On the inside is the grace, mercy, and peace of God, and the fellowship of the beloved. Jesus Christ is the dividing line that creates a wall of protection for the church...

Just look at the children of Israel in Egypt. The night before the exodus they put blood on the door posts and the angel passed over them when it saw the blood and could not enter to kill the firstborn. However, where there was no blood, the angel was able to take vengeance. The blood of Christ covers his saints; it's applied in baptism for all the weary souls hear the beckoning call of the Savior, those who come out of the world and cross the threshold of the church.

It's so wonderful to see how Jesus provides protection and safety for his own. There's no greater place to be than in the church, the kingdom of the living God!!!