What Does ‘Reap What You Sow’ Mean?

“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” (Galatians 6:7-8)

Let me begin with what sowing and reaping is not. It’s not “karma.” Even though the concept of karma is loosely based on reaping and sowing.

Karma’s origins are in the Hindu and Buddhist traditions and it is defined as the sum of a person’s actions in this life and previous lives that decide the fate of their future existences.

The concept of “sowing and reaping” is immensely better than “karma.” The sowing part is not just a duty that I must perform. There is nourishment that accompanies doing the will of God and helping other people. There is a joy in finishing good works for the Lord (John 4:34) and that joy isn’t dependent on the harvest that may come later. 

Problem #1:  Multiple Lives

The first problem that I have with the idea of karma is that it is deeply connected to the belief of each person having multiple earthly lives. This simply doesn’t match up with the Bible. We get one life that feels as short as a vapor and vanishes quickly (James 4:14). One short life to either accept God’s loving provision or reject it. Therefore, I must be very careful how I live and make the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Problem #2:  Karma’s History

The next problem is the history of karma. India’s caste system lists many poor people in their “untouchable” category because they must have done something very bad in this life or in a previous life and therefore deserve poor living conditions. Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa attempted to fight the atrocities of this system by showing that there is dignity in every human life. This bottom of the caste category means that they are unworthy of help. On the other hand, Jesus came to help ALL—especially the sick, poor, and downcast.

Problem #3: Tit for Tat Mentality

Another problem that I have with karma is that it is often used in a tit for tat way. If I do this, I’ll get this other thing of equal value. I have to do this good thing and I’ll receive equally. It’s like I’m saying, “If I do this, God will owe me.” That’s not how God set up the world to work. He doesn’t owe me anything.

Problem #4: Revenge Mentality

Lastly, a lot of people use the word “karma” as a revenge mentality. The word is screamed out when you see someone who did you wrong in the past have a similar thing done to them. You’re glad that they were put in their place. Revenge has NO place in God’s kingdom! God’s kingdom is all about repentance and forgiveness. 

Of course, there’s also justice, and sowing and reaping also includes sowing bad things and getting consequences in return. The Bible says that “whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken” (Proverbs 22:8). But even in those consequences, there is much opportunity for repentance and forgiveness.

 by Jennifer Heeren