The number of trucks going past my house reminds me that we are in the middle of harvest time. Farmers, contractors, silos, truck drivers and mechanics are all working long hours to get the harvest into storage before storms, birds, insects or other disasters can do serious damage.

The Bible is full of references to farming and, in particular, to harvesting.

The phrase “you reap what you sow” is one of those references, and I imagine it would have been a fairly common saying back in the day. We can’t imagine a farmer planting barley and hoping for wheat. That would go against all the laws of nature.

Strangely, though, many people fail to apply this to their own lives. If you sow kindness and generosity, people will respond by being kind back to you. If you live by violence and bullying, then you cannot expect others to treat you with love and respect.

One of the Old Testament prophets coined this phrase, “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.” This referred to the then rulers of the state of Israel who ignored their God and instead chose to encourage the worship of the fake gods of other nations. The result, Hosea said, was that they would be overrun by the Assyrians, one of the nastiest empires of the time, and of course full of idols. The Israelites had played at worshipping idols, now they would be destroyed by expert idol worshippers.

In modern times, we might think of people who play fast and loose with the rules, seemingly untouchable until the Police or the Tax Office catch up with them. They sowed a wind but reaped a whirlwind of trouble.

Many people spend their whole lives without any reference to God. They might be good people but just have no time for religion. They are good enough for God, they reason, and He will take care of them in the after life.

But if you have a life in which you sow arrogance towards God, then you will reap a whirlwind of wrath. On the other hand, a life of humble service to the Lord will reap a very different harvest.

What are you sowing?