What to Sow. What to Reap.

Much of what happens in life comes through the choices we have made: the words we speak, the places we go, the people with whom we spend time, in what we invest our money, and where we spend our energy. Someone was recently saying “Your desires shape your destiny,” implying that many of these decisions are often based on what we want, and these choices will work to shape our future. Therefore, through these choices, there are many times where we “reap what we sow”. Furthermore, this morning it was mentioned that there are also instances where we receive, but not because of what we have planted. I know that in these situations, we still have a choice.

When I think of choices that shape our destiny, Naaman comes to mind. Inflicted with leprosy and therefore, paralysed from his position in the army and an outcast of society, he sought help from the prophet Elisha, expecting to be instantly healed for money or goods. Instead, he was faced with a decision. Elisha told him to dip seven times in the Jordan River – a filthy river. What seemed unreasonable, senseless and perhaps insanity, proved to be a simple test of trust and obedience; and Naaman had a choice. In the end he put down his own pride and reason  and doing as he was told, he trusted the man of God and was healed.

This morning, the pastor talked of the widow whose sons were going to be taken from her because she could not pay her taxes. She too went to see the prophet, Elisha, and asked for his help. She might have been thinking the answer would come in the form of “money from heaven”.

“Go borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbours, even empty vessels; do not get a few,” he had told her. Then Elisha asked her to pour her last little pot of oil into those jars, until the oil stopped flowing. It seemed unrealistic, perhaps insane, yet it tested her obedience and trust. Her sons went out to find jars, and she filled all that they brought back to her. Should she have insisted they find more, might the oil have continued to flow? I believe it would have. She had the option of filling as many jars as she could find. She filled what her sons brought to her, paid her taxes – the act of obedience and trust, preserving her sons.

Therefore, I was reminded this morning that we have choices. If we trust God - speak when He asks us to, do what He requires of us, go where He tells us to, we can be assured our destiny lies in the safety of His hands. “The safest place to be is in the Will of God”. Moreover, we reap what we sow. Jonah made a choice and ran; he had the belly of the great fish coming his way. Esther made a forbidden entrance to the king; she saved her people. However, there are time where we will receive what we didn't sow –types of losses, suffering and natural disaster – and in these events, we make a choice whether we continue to trust God. In these times, I think of all I received in life, for which I did not sow - the unfailing love, forgiveness, and Eternal redemption of Christ. Therefore, when suffering and loss seem to overwhelm, I know I can trust Him because He has already given me unspeakable gifts which I never sowed. I have harvested a lovingkindness from Him, which I could never have planted.

I hope that in the difficult times, I choose to respond like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego - If the Lord saves us, and if He doesn't, we will continue to serve and trust Him. “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace...But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”Daniel 3:17,18

Taking little Esther to church :)

Sunrise over the valley