For many years my father had a very impressive garden. He had grown up on a farm and had enjoyed the process of seeing crops planted and harvested. His desire to be a farmer was never fulfilled. So gardening was a way to scratch that itch to be a farmer. He bought a small parcel behind his house to increase the size he could plant. Part of the process as tilling the ground, planting seeds, fertilizing, watering, tilling, etc... all went into producing a crop. If you wanted corn, you planted corn see. If you wanted lettuce, you planted lettuce. To ensure a good crop, you cared for it.
The Bible was written to people who were very familiar with agriculture imagery and lessons.
Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV)
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (cf Job 4:8; Proverbs 11:18; 22:8;Obadiah 1:15; Hosea 8:7,10:12-13)
This processing of reaping and sowing is used to describe what happens spiritually when a person sows to their flesh or to the Spirit. There is a natural, supernatural, outgrowth from the choices people make. Godly choices lead one to reap the benefits of eternal life. In the previous chapter we are called to “keep in step with the Spirit” which is another way of describing sowing to the Spirit.
We are called to train ourselves to be godly (1 Tim 4:7) and “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(2 Peter 3:18) ”
No one can hinder a Christian’s relationship with God. If we want to grow in our relationship with the Lord, we can sow to the Spirit. Only we can hinder our relationship with God. May we focus on sowing to the Spirit and enjoying the benefits of eternal life.
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