They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no bud; it shall never produce meal. If it should produce, aliens would swallow it up. Hosea 8:7
Life is a seed-time of harvest. Many may have said that they have sown a seed. However, a prudent person not only sows, but thinks of the harvest. The righteous will be encouraged by a good harvest but those who are godless will receive a bad harvest. Here are some things that a worldly seed will produce:
1) A worldly seed produces bad consequences. “They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.” If the sowing is careless or mischievous, the harvest will be of the same manner—reckless and ruthless; only terribly intensified. As the prophet describes, the wind grew into a whirlwind. Sin cannot be tolerated. Occasional indulgence in sin will become a habit that will slowly destroy your life. “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened” (1 Cor. 5:6-7).
2) A worldly seed leads to failure. “The stalk has no bud.” A bad seed will not produce a good harvest. Salvation cannot be obtained through self-righteousness. The gospel cannot be understood and analyzed through human wisdom. Idlers and talkers will try to appear useful but they actually achieve nothing. Their words are empty. They are just great talkers whose “stalk has no bud.” Without faith and obedience, Christians are deceived and live foolishly without the blessings of a good future. There is “no bud” in their life.
3) A worldly seed leads to an unsatisfactory harvest. “It shall never produce meal.” The man who lives for pleasure will find satiety (disgust caused by overindulgence or excess). He who lives for fame will gather vanity. He who lives for self will find misery. He who lives by his own works and religiosity will not reap real salvation. Solomon said, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind” (Eccl. 1:14). But what was his conclusion then? Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NIV) says, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
4) A worldly seed leads to personal disappointment. “If it should produce, aliens would swallow it up.” A person who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption (Gal. 6:8). He will spend his life toiling but in the end, he will gain nothing. Even if he gets his reward, it will be taken away from him. Without God, nothing is wise, strong or worth the doing. Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Life is a seed-time of harvest. Many may have said that they have sown a seed. However, a prudent person not only sows, but thinks of the harvest. The righteous will be encouraged by a good harvest but those who are godless will receive a bad harvest. Here are some things that a worldly seed will produce:
1) A worldly seed produces bad consequences. “They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.” If the sowing is careless or mischievous, the harvest will be of the same manner—reckless and ruthless; only terribly intensified. As the prophet describes, the wind grew into a whirlwind. Sin cannot be tolerated. Occasional indulgence in sin will become a habit that will slowly destroy your life. “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened” (1 Cor. 5:6-7).
2) A worldly seed leads to failure. “The stalk has no bud.” A bad seed will not produce a good harvest. Salvation cannot be obtained through self-righteousness. The gospel cannot be understood and analyzed through human wisdom. Idlers and talkers will try to appear useful but they actually achieve nothing. Their words are empty. They are just great talkers whose “stalk has no bud.” Without faith and obedience, Christians are deceived and live foolishly without the blessings of a good future. There is “no bud” in their life.
3) A worldly seed leads to an unsatisfactory harvest. “It shall never produce meal.” The man who lives for pleasure will find satiety (disgust caused by overindulgence or excess). He who lives for fame will gather vanity. He who lives for self will find misery. He who lives by his own works and religiosity will not reap real salvation. Solomon said, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind” (Eccl. 1:14). But what was his conclusion then? Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NIV) says, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
4) A worldly seed leads to personal disappointment. “If it should produce, aliens would swallow it up.” A person who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption (Gal. 6:8). He will spend his life toiling but in the end, he will gain nothing. Even if he gets his reward, it will be taken away from him. Without God, nothing is wise, strong or worth the doing. Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
No comments:
Post a Comment