Principle of Sowing and Reaping Can Turn Hurting Marriages Around

Dr. David B. Hawkins

Editor's Note: Do you need sound, Biblically-based advice on an issue in your marriage or family?  Dr. David will address two questions from Crosswalk readers in each weekly column. Submit your question to him at TheRelationshipDoctor@gmail.com.

Dear Dr. David,

I am a twenty-seven year old husband from a seven year marriage. In the first year of our marriage together, my wife and I fought like cats and dogs. I was constantly going out with my friends and taking advantage of my wife, her time together, her wants and needs. I was not a very good husband.  It has taken me years of arguing and resentment to realize that I haven’t let go of her past wrongs that happened before I knew her and after we were married. Now I understand that at least for the things that have happened since we were married, I was a lot to blame, if not completely. I have a really hard time trying not to bring up her past when we argue about intimacy or respect for one another. 

Planting Sweets

Kate Motaung

One spring morning at church, a friend gave our four-year-old daughter a piece of candy.  She cupped it in her palm, wrapped her fingers around it and cherished her newly acquired treasure. 

About half an hour later, as we were about to leave, I noticed in the church parking lot that she no longer had her prized possession. 

“Where did your sweet go?” I asked her.

“Oh, I planted it in the dirt over there so it will grow into a tree full of sweets.”

MORE THAN JUST SOWING AND REAPING

LUKE 6:38, "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 6:17-49

This verse reveals one of God's cardinal laws that will work in the spiritual realm, as well as the physical world. Just as we "give" seed into the ground to receive back multiple seeds, so it is with everything we give. Whether it's money, possessions, an emotion such as love or hate, prayers, or our time, we will reap a harvest of whatever we give. We reap exactly what we sow and proportional to the same measure that we give (Gal. 6:7-8).

"He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully" (2 Cor. 9:6). This law works on positive or negative things that we sow.

Although this is an unchangeable law of God, it can be overcome by a greater law in much the same way that we can escape the law of gravity by using the greater laws of thrust and lift. The negative things we have given don't have to come back to us if we apply the greater law of forgiveness (1 Jn. 1:9). Likewise, the good things we have sown can be voided if we don't continue in well doing (Gal. 6:9).

There Is A Miracle In Your House!

by Jeanniene Lee

Are you in need of a miracle? Within your house, within your hand, within your possession is the seed for your miracle. Yes, beloved, today you have within your possession the seed for the miracle you need right now. The seed for your future harvest is in your possession today.

The harvest you are reaping today, whether good or bad, is a product of the seed you sowed yesterday. Whether your yesterday was last week, last month, last year or ten years ago. You are reaping the harvest from the seeds you sowed in days gone by.

Galatians 6:7 warns us not to be deceived concerning God's law of sowing and reaping - "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Whatsoever means just that - what-so-ever.

Sticks and Stones

Written by Barbara Alpert

It’s been said that we are all the walking wounded. You can help come alongside wounded people by applying to be a mentor. Your prayer and kind words can make a difference. Apply today!

“The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4)

Many have heard or even recited, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me”. How false the second part of this old time saying is! Cruel words spoken to or about us do hurt. In fact, many people, regardless of age, remain wounded for years because of hurtful words tossed at them. The power of just one unkind word can crush a person’s spirit for a very long time.

A Supernatural Cycle of Blessing

"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." (Ecclesiastes 11:1)

One of the most exciting things I ever discovered about God's law of sowing and reaping was the fact that financial harvests are not seasonal. If you plant year round, you can be receiving year round.

Don't misunderstand. I'm not saying your harvest will come instantly. It usually won't. You may have to wait for it for several months. What I'm saying is, if you'll keep planting consistently, you'll receive just as consistently. If you'll continually cast your bread on the water, eventually it will come in on every wave!

Of course, some people never get to enjoy that kind of constant blessing. That's because, instead of giving, they keep waiting to receive. They stand on the beach saying, "I wonder where my prosperity is? As soon as it comes in, I'll start giving."