Sowing, Reaping, and the Generations to Come

Reading through the first few books of the Bible, it’s not hard to spot the generational emphasis. If nothing else, the many genealogies should give us a clue that God actually cares about each generation, whether or not they accomplished anything we might call significant.

The importance of the following generations can be seen in Eve’s name, which means “life-bearer.” It can be seen in the severity of the punishment God dealt to Cain when he killed his brother Abel. It is again seen in the command for Noah’s family to get into the ark, and again in His command for them to be fruitful and multiply once they left the ark.

It is seen in God’s covenant with Abraham, in whom “all the families of the earth” were to be blessed. (Genesis 12:3) It is seen in Joseph’s care for his numerous family, and in God’s miraculous deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt, where many of their baby boys had been killed at birth by order of the fearful Pharaoh.

The generational focus can be seen in the details of God’s law and throughout the sustained call to repentance which forms the bulk of the books of prophecy. It continues in the New Testament with the calling of Elizabeth to bear John the Baptist, and likewise the calling of Mary to bear the Lord Jesus Himself.

It is modeled by Jesus as He tells His disciples to “suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for such is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:16) or when He called a little child into the midst of their discussion as an example of simple, trusting faith.

It is seen in the very structure of discipleship, in the emphasis on sharing with others the truths we are learning, of the Gospel itself and then of life in Christ. It is expressed in the tender term of endearment used both by Paul and John through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, calling those in whom they had invested “my son” or “my little children.”

Yes, it is clear that God cares what happens between one generation and the next: what is taught, what is learned, what is modeled, what is emulated.

This has been on my heart much in recent days, because I am at the point in my teaching career where I am beginning to see some fruit from the years of investment in a few of the “next generation.” Whether it’s two girls ambushing me after school full of excitement about the stories they are reading, or the student who stops me at recess to ask if I will pray for their upcoming dental surgery, or the teen who asks to help in my class during NBT, I am often struck by the many little blessings that accumulate over the years.

And that’s not just with my class. In God’s glorious design, each believer is to invest in the others, particularly in those “younger,” or less mature in the faith. As you attend church week by week, God’s plan is for you to be building others up, while building godly relationships that make us stronger in the faith.

And that’s where sowing and reaping come in. 2 Corinthians 9:6 says,

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly’ and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

This verse is referring to our financial giving, but the principle applies to many other areas as well. If you sow little to no seed, you will reap little to no fruit.

When you go to church or interact with your family and friends—or even with strangers, you have the opportunity to be sowing. We can sow “good seed” of holiness and a God-ward focus, we can sow “bad seed” of ungodliness and preoccupation with foolish things, or we can sow no seed at all by choosing not to interact with those around us.

We live in a day when much (if not most) of our interaction with people happens via technology such as social media, texting, or FaceTime. While it is possible to use those as tools for building up our brothers and sisters in Christ, it isn’t enough.

My Instagram followers see only what I show them. They cannot get a true sense of what is going on in my heart or life, because the platform itself is designed to showcase. Posting on social media is a bit like having a conversation in a public place: we tend to hold back, to try to look good so others will think well of us.

This is one reason why online church isn’t enough. The service on my computer screen cannot show me the sister-in-Christ with a clouded countenance, nor does it provide opportunity for me to draw alongside her, to help and encourage. It also keeps me at a distance from those who would do the same for me, if only we were gathered together in the same building.

In this age of screens and impersonality, church is a place of vital importance. We gather in person with the family of God, to worship, yes, to learn, yes, but also to fellowship. It is often in those times of fellowship that seeds are sown. Take time to notice people, talk to them, and enter into their lives. Especially notice those younger, whether physically or in spiritual maturity, and take them under your wing.

Beware of going to church to leave. Let the Holy Spirit guide you, ask Him who He would have you to invest in, what seeds to sow.—And settle in for the long haul.

“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:6