Sowing and Reaping is a clear principle in the Bible. It’s even clearer in the real day-to-day world. All of our lives, Muslims, Jews, Gentiles, Hindi, Buddhists and even secular people. We all live in the world in which we make our beds and have to lie in them. What goes around comes around. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. If you don’t work you don’t eat! If you want to dance you have to pay the piper. If it’s to be it’s up to me! We make money the old fashioned way; we earn it! God helps those who help themselves. No pain, no gain! I could go on, but the principle of sowing and reaping is as clear as day. All of our lives are filled with obligations and responsibilities. We all have to set the alarm clocks. We all have to pay the rent or the taxes or the utilities. This principle of life transcends any religion or system of belief. It’s just a part of life. Get used to it! If you want a pay check, you’re going to have to work for it! If you want cable TV or electricity or access to the world wide web you have to pay for it. But it does get weary, doesn’t it?

I can remember my Dad who grew up in the depression sitting at the kitchen table with his coffee and camels lamenting the fact of sowing and reaping although he didn’t call it that. He tried hard to impress upon us the virtues of saving for a rainy day and for being responsible on the job and for putting in full day’s work. I think he was frustrated with his baby boomer kids because we didn’t feel the same pressure to produce that he did. But as much as we wanted to escape the realm of sowing and reaping we too found ourselves slaves to that eternal law of the land; whatsoever a man sows, that he will also reap.

People are really good at reminding us of all our responsibilities. We get our bills every month. We have report cards to tell us how well we’ve done or in my early years how poorly I have done. We have bosses looking over our shoulders wondering if we’ve completed those TPS Reports (See the movie Office Space). There are policemen hiding behind billboards with radar guns. Yes, our lives are simply full of “must do, should do, ought to do.” The religious leaders in Jesus day were really good at laying it on the people. Jesus said of them, “you lay such heavy burdens on people and you do not help one bit to relieve that pressure.” Jesus came to help us with this. He says in Matthew 11:28, “come to me all of you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Eugene Peterson translates this passage in The Message as “all you who are burned out on religion.” He did not come to lay more burdens and duties and responsibilities on us. He came to relieve us of them. Yes, we’ve all made our own beds, but on the cross of Calvary Christ laid in it for us! We can find true rest for our souls with Him.