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Karma? The Laws of Sowing and Reaping By Val Today many have the point of view that everything you do comes back to you. That somehow, someway what you do in life no matter what it is will find you out and happen to you just because you did it to another. “What goes around, comes around,” is one of the terms coined from the belief, as well as the term, “reaping the whirl-wind.” The way that it is viewed by most is that it is some sort of “spiritual law” that is just as basic as the law of gravity, yet because it is spiritual it goes unchecked and ignored. Many religions in the world teach this spiritual law in some form or fashion. The influence of this belief even goes beyond religious circles and into the non-religious world; mostly popularized by the Buddhist religion and their doctrine of “Karma.” I have met a lot of people who are not Buddhist’s, who believe in some form of Karma, and they will warn you to watch what you do, and to abstain from bad deeds because it is “bad Karma” and will come back to you. They will say, “What goes around, comes around,” and use other familiar terms; yet the Buddhist doctrine of Karma is not what most think it is. Karma is a serious false doctrine dealing with reincarnation, deification and a bunch of other false ideas, not just “what goes around comes around.” It will be interesting to some to discover that “what goes around, comes around” –did not start in the religion of Buddhism, nor did it begin in the hippy movement of the 60’s. It began with God in Judaism…. Its origin is the Bible. Remember one of the catch phrases of the doctrine is, “Reap the whirl-wind.” “For they have sown the wind, they shall reap the whirl-wind.” Hosea 8:7 “Sown the wind…”? To understanding this we must understand what the word “sown” means, or what it means to “sow.” Before we go there, another term used for “what goes around, comes around” is the phrase, “You reap, what you sow!” I’ve heard people say this all my life. At times when a not-so-bad thing happens to someone, another person will say, “Well, you reap what you sow.” What they are really saying is: “they got theirs”, “reap the whirl-wind”, “what goes around comes around.” “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Gal 6:7-8 In the above passage, the sowing and reaping is referring to things of the Spirit, and things of the flesh. The key variable is the word “whatsoever”. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” The variable reveals that there are many things one can do to sow spiritually that will reap spiritual results back on his life, and also many things to sow fleshly that will reap fleshly results. No matter what you do, you will, “Reap the whirl-wind”, the Bible teaches. It is not called “Karma,” its Biblical term is “sowing and reaping,” and it is happening to you whether you believe in it or not.
The Same Shall you Receive One very important point that the Bible makes is the fact that it is exactly what you do, or “sow” that will come back to you. What goes around WILL come around, according to the Bible. In this next verse, two important points stick out, 1. God rewards good things; 2. Exactly what you sow, you will reap. Not something different. “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” Eph 6:8 “The same shall he receive…” The good things you do WILL come back to you. You will reap the whirl-wind of your good deeds. We will see a little further that bad things come back as well. Sounding like Karma to you? It is not, it is sowing and reaping, and it did not originate with Satan's camp of false religions. It is God’s Word that He laid out from the beginning of time. What you do comes back to you…. It is all over the Bible, not only in academic scriptures we are looking at that bluntly declare the Law, but in the countless Bible stories in the Old and New Testaments, there is example after example. God's word is so clear, you need a good false teacher to help you misunderstand it. Remember in Galatians: “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap;” and now, “whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” Notice the emphasis given…. that shall he also reap….. the same shall he receive. Whatever you sow… that and the same you shall receive back is what these passages state so plainly. This does not abate God's sovereignty. It's not about us telling God what to do, it's about God commanding us what to do! Then He tells us what He will do. Do not let anyone confuse you about this. It is God who commands, and it is He who is saying these things to us in His Word. The Bible is even clear on the amounts of that and the same that you will receive back. Get ready for a shocker: “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 2 Cor 9:6-11 Jesus said, “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matt 7:2 Many who read 2 Cor 9:6-11 think that this is only pertaining to giving, but the issue is the function of sowing and reaping. In other words, it is a Law that is not singled out to one area, but covers everything. “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 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.” Luke 6:37-38 Notice He starts out with, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven…” Why? Because what goes around WILL come back to you. Then He says, “Give, and it shall be given….” But what if I do judge and condemn someone? Or what if I forgive or give? What can I expect to happen? “..with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” "Behold, he that travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood... His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate." Psalm 7:14-16 "Woe to
thee that spoilest, and thou was not spoiled; and deals
treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou
shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt
make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with
thee." Isaiah 33:1
Proverbs 26:27, "Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him." Job 4:8 "Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same." Proverbs 11:17-18 "The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward."
It is also included in the word of God concerning money matters. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." NIV Malachi 3:10-11 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts." Proverbs 19:17 "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." Ephesians 6:8 "whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” There are many other verses and stories in the Bible that display the truth of sowing and reaping. But there is more than sufficient here for teaching. If someone does not believe the Bible after all the scripture is laid out so plainly, they are just deceived into unbelief.
Motives For Giving Some teachers in the Body of Christ have made the mistake of trashing the doctrine of sowing and reaping when it concerns giving because they assume it creates a false motive for giving. Thankfully God promises to recompense bad deeds as well. However the motives for giving to God or feeding the poor or any other good deed in righteousness cannot be thought to hide the motive. God is not mocked, He knows all the hearts. All things are naked and opened unto the eye's of Him with Whom we have to do. These promises of reaping harvest on good things you sow are made to the righteous. Those with pure and obedient hearts for God. Gain is no motive for the righteous, because for the righteous it is more blessed to give than to receive. This falls into the Lord's word on good stewardship, and "he that is faithful in little is made ruler over much." It's about faith, not motives. There is God's word on motives, and there is God's Word on faith. Our motives for giving is love, and faith works by love. We simply believe God's Word when He says He gives seed to the sower and multiplies our seed sown. 2 Cor 9:6-11 So many times we want to do God's job of judging the hearts for Him, as if we were smarter than God; but please don't trash the promises of God trying to protect people from false motives. God knows what He is doing when He makes promises in His Word. Whenever we give to people or ministries, we are instructed not to expect anything back from them. Give, expecting nothing in return. We do not look to people, we look to God. He 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.” Luke 6:37-38 These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Be careful to maintain good works, because whether you believe it or not, God will recompense in this time even, all good and bad deeds according to their measure.
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