Cause and Effect

Cause and Effect

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly
and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
II Corinthians 9:6

The interesting thing about the story of the man who drank 6 energy drinks in a relatively short timeframe and ended up in the hospital with chest pains, some paralysis and a few other sympoms was that he immediately realized the cause of his problem as the drinks he had taken. Most of us can remember not getting up from a really good meal soon enough and experiencing the resulting discomfort in our stomachs that comes from overeating. No one had to tell us that we ate too much; we were fully aware of the cause of the problem.

Unfortunately, the realization of cause and effect in our lives is often very lacking. As we face difficulties and challenges, we have to be able to look back and weed out those situations where we have to take some responsibility for causing what has resulted. Paul talked in our opening scripture about reaping and sowing, a principle firmly established in not only the Word of God, but in most people's practical life experiences. Malachi talked about the fruit of the blessings that come to those who are faithful in tithes and offerings and Isaiah 3:10 says this:

"Say to the righteous it shall be well with them
for they shall eat the fruit of their doings."

We eat the fruit of what we plant and what we sow in so many ways, some that are rewarding and fulfilling, and others that are sad and discouraging. That fruit is seen in our relationships, in our finances, and in the degree of blessing that is upon our lives. But the key is not really in what we have been reaping. What has already been sown has been sown and we can only hope in God's mercy as we reap the fruit of our actions.

The key is in being honest with ourselves and not complaining about the effects while ignoring that we may be the cause of our own problems, or has been said too often, "our own worst enemy. In realizing the cause of where we might find ourselves, we will also find the key to sowing a new crop, sowing seeds of righteousness and of faithfulness in our relationship with the Lord and sowing seeds of love, kindness and mercy in our relationships with others.

It's then that we will see the cause and effect principle from the other side, as we reap the good fruit of the good seeds we have sown.

God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church