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Christ’s Object Lessons
first-born of all in his house and of all the families in his kingdom, until
the waters of the sea closed over his horses and his chariots and his
men of war. His history is a fearful illustration of the truth of the words
that “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
Galatians 6:7
.
Did men but realize this, they would be careful what seed they sow.
As the seed sown produces a harvest, and this in turn is sown, the
harvest is multiplied. In our relation to others, this law holds true.
Every act, every word, is a seed that will bear fruit. Every deed of
thoughtful kindness, of obedience, or of self-denial, will reproduce
itself in others, and through them in still others. So every act of
envy, malice, or dissension is a seed that will spring up in a “root of
bitterness” (
Hebrews 12:15
), whereby many shall be defiled. And how
much larger number will the “many” poison. Thus the sowing of good
and evil goes on for time and for eternity.
* * * * *
Liberality both in spiritual and in temporal things is taught in the
lesson of seed sowing. The Lord says, “Blessed are ye that sow beside
all waters.”
Isaiah 32:20
. “This I say, He which soweth sparingly shall
reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully.”
2 Corinthians 9:6
. To sow beside all waters means a
continual imparting of God’s gifts. It means giving wherever the cause
of God or the needs of humanity demand our aid. This will not tend
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to poverty. “He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”
The sower multiplies his seed by casting it away. So it is with those
who are faithful in distributing God’s gifts. By imparting they increase
their blessings. God has promised them a sufficiency that they may
continue to give. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure,
pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give
into your bosom.”
Luke 6:38
.
And more than this is wrapped up in the sowing and the reaping.
As we distribute God’s temporal blessings, the evidence of our love
and sympathy awakens in the receiver gratitude and thanksgiving to
God. The soil of the heart is prepared to receive the seeds of spiritual
truth. And He who ministers seed to the sower will cause the seed to
germinate and bear fruit unto eternal life.
* * * * *