According to the Bible, do you reap what you sow? The principle of sowing and reaping is common throughout the Bible, because it is something that humanity can relate to. The practice of working the land for a harvest is almost as old as humanity itself. Part of Adam’s curse was that the ground would produce thorns and thistles in response to his work and that “by the sweat of your brow you shall eat your food” (Genesis 3:19). Adam understood the concept of “you reap what you sow” both literally and figuratively.
The language you reap what you sow probably makes direct reference to one of the two New Testament verses. One is 2 Corinthians 9:6, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; and he who sows generously, he will also reap generously.” The other is Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. Each one reaps what he sows.” As a general principle, it is true that sowing leads to reaping. It is true in agriculture and it is true in life choices. So, “you reap what you sow” is biblical.
There are Old Testament verses that also refer to the principle that we reap what we sow. “Those who sow injustice will reap calamity,” says King Solomon (Proverbs 22:8). “You have sown wickedness, you have reaped wickedness,” says the prophet ( Hosea 10:13 ). “They will eat the fruit of their ways and be satisfied with the fruit of their plans,” says Wisdom in Proverbs 1:31. In each case, the law of sowing and reaping goes back to the justice of God.
While the real spiritual principle that if we sow bad things, we will reap bad things is at work, there is also mercy. Fortunately, we do not always reap what we sow. God reserves the right to show mercy to whomever He wants, as He told Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” (Romans 9:15). It is because of God’s mercy and compassion that we can have a home in heaven, despite our sin. We sowed wickedness and corruption, and Jesus reaped our punishment on the cross. May He be praised forever.
Sometimes what looks like a harvest is not. When Job suffered, his friends viewed the problem as a just punishment from God for some secret sin. Job’s friend Eliphaz said, “As I have observed, those who plow evil, and those who sow misfortune, reap it” ( Job 4:8 ). But Eliphaz was wrong. Job was not reaping what he had sown. The harvest had not yet come, and would not come until the end of the book ( Job 42:10–17). Experiencing negative circumstances does not necessarily mean that we have sown negative things. The principle of reaping and sowing is generally true, but it does not always work in all situations in the way that we might expect.
“You reap what you sow” is true both positively and negatively. “He who sows to please his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh; He who sows to please the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:8). This verse sums up the principle well. When we are selfish, proud, unrighteous, sinful, and trust in our own ability or courage to save ourselves, we are “sowing to the flesh,” and destruction awaits us. But when we are selfless, generous, kind, and dependent on God’s provision and salvation, we are “sowing to the Spirit” and will reap eternal life.
Faith in Jesus and the pursuit of godliness is “sowing to the Spirit.” Sowing for the flesh, depending on ourselves and our ability to find our own way without God’s help, will reap nothing but a dead end. But when we put our trust in Christ, we reap eternal life. His love is fertile ground.