Doing Good

We reap what we sow.  You have probably heard that at some point in your life.  Maybe you’ve heard it in the context of money.  Maybe you’ve heard it in the context of how you treat people.  If you’re nice to people, people will be nice back.  If you’re mean though, “you’re going to reap what you sow”.  It’s a fairly simple concept.  It’s the “golden rule”.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

It’s so easy to get self centered, self-focused when life starts going crazy.  Bills start adding up, job is frustrating, friends are no where to be found, etc.  It could be one or all of those things together, or, something completely different.  You start thinking self preservation.  You start thinking, “I’m tired of always giving and not getting back”.  You work hard and nothing comes of it.  It’s discouraging and you feel it’s jut not worth it.

The bible says “But don’t be weary in doing good … in the right time, you’ll reap a harvest”.  I take comfort in that and am actually quite encouraged by that.  Knowing that the God of the universe is encouraging me, telling me, “Don’t give up” is amazing.  Because he knows when things will get better, it’s as if He’s saying, “just a little more and you’ll cross the finish line.  I see the end, you’re almost there”.  I also have to remind myself how many times God continues to do good in my life, but do I return the favor?  Do I give back when God has given his all?  “I’m tired of always giving and not getting back”.  Am I on the “not getting back” side of things?  God is patient, more so than I’ll ever be.  So if He’s patient with me when He does good in my life, I can be a little more patient when doing good for others, to the point where regardless of whether I “get something back” from those I’m doing good to, I know that God will return it to me at the right time.

You will reap what you sow.  The encouraging thing is regardless whether you reap something from man or not, the bible says in the right time you WILL reap a harvest.  I would almost rather not reap anything from man.  I’d rather give and not get back from man.  Because that means I’ll reap God’s rewards.  And those are so much better!