Galatians 6:7-9 Continue Bearing Fruit, For God is not Mocked

Galatians 6:7-9 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Paul’s imperative here is clear, when taken in context. Do not be deceived about your use of money. This principle, however, is being extended here by Paul beyond merely the use of money. Do not let yourself be deceived when it comes to how you live. God is not mocked nor will He be. You will not deceive God and pull a fast one on Him. Your life must measure up—you must bear the fruit of the Spirit, not the deeds of the flesh.

The principle here is likened to the work of the farmer. No farmer who sows wheat expects to harvest corn; nor should he. Nature bears witness that what a person sows is what he/she will reap. “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:18-20). People, like plants and trees, will bear fruit of their kind. Christians will produce the “fruit of the Spirit” of God, while unbelievers will produce “the deeds of the flesh.” God will not be deceived by your outward profession of faith. He knows every thought and intention of your heart (cf. Hebrews 4:13). So do not be deceived and think that you will not reap that which you sow.

How does this work out in practical life? “The one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” If you are sowing, whether monetarily, with your time, or with your thoughts and actions, to the flesh, you will reap “the deeds of the flesh,” or the corruption of your soul. The result of a life of practicing the deeds of the flesh (without repentance) is absolute corruption in hell (cf. Revelation 21:8). John the Baptist himself said: “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:8-10). Do not be deceived and boast that you are the elect of God and yet walk as one of the world. Rather, prove that you are of the elect and bear the fruit of repentance: i.e., the fruit of the Spirit.

If you sow to the spirit, your time, money, actions, and thoughts, and you are disciplining yourself (which could be called “sowing to the spirit”), then you will reap spiritual gains. If you discipline yourself spiritually, you will grow spiritually. Just like “you are what you eat,” you will become that to which you give yourself. If you give yourself to the ways of the Spirit through reading the Word, you will become like Christ—the ultimate goal of the Christian life (cf. Romans 8:29).

God has another word to say about this. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24). If you are sowing to the flesh—especially monetarily, you will be reaping fleshly desires and things—you will be proving that money is your god—you will be committing idolatry. You cannot serve your own flesh and God. God only accepts whole-hearted devotion. Therefore, as Christians, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Commit yourself to the spiritual disciplines and to sowing to your spiritual man. If you continue in doing what is good, that is, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, you will, in due time—both now and at the Day of Judgment, reap eternal life—for eternal life is knowing God and being conformed more and more to the image of Christ (cf. John 17:3).