The Universal Law of Sowing and Reaping
2 Corinthians 9:6
"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."
The verse above is certainly about financial giving, but the principle applies to every area of life. Sowing and reaping is not just about money, but it is a universal law that cannot be reversed, and it will always work. When I worked in the strawberry fields as a teenage young man, we spent about three weeks planting strawberry plants in the fall. This was not a pleasant time for several reasons. One of the reasons is because there seemed to be no immediate reward. Another reason was because the pay was not the best. However, what I did enjoy was the next summer when it paid off with strawberries on the plants. The universal law of sowing and reaping worked.
First, let me apply this principle in its context of this verse. The LORD will give back to you according as you give to Him. If you give sparingly, then the LORD will return in the same manner; however, if you give in a generous manner, then the LORD will give back to you in a generous manner. Luke 6:38 says, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Whatever measuring cup you use to give is the same measuring cup God uses to give back.
Second, let me take this in another direction. If you need something in your life, then you would be wise to start sowing what you need so that you can reap later in life. You have heard the statement, "What goes around comes around." This statement is nothing more than the universal law of sowing and reaping. If you do good to others, then you will reap good from others. If you sow bad to others, then you will reap bad from others. If you are friendly to others, then you will reap friendliness from others. Whatever you do to others will eventually come back around to you.
Christian, if you want people to love you, then you would be wise to start loving people right now. You will never receive love from others if you don't start loving them right now. If you want to reap joy in life, then you would be wise to start sowing joy in the lives of others. You will never receive joy if you don't start giving joy. If you want to reap companionship when you are old, then you better start sowing companionship to older people right now. If you want to reap mercy when you do wrong, then you better start sowing mercy when others do wrong. Whatever you need in life, now is the time to start sowing.
Finally, reaping is never an immediate process. Don't give up hope in the area of reaping. Sowing takes a season for the fruit to ripen before it can be picked. Likewise, you will never immediately receive what you are giving right now; however, if you will be patient and trust that the law of sowing and reaping never fails, then you will find that you will reap if you don't quit. You keep sowing what is right, and eventually when the reaping season comes you will find that the fruits of your labors were worth the effort and the wait.