Galatians 6.7
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”
E+R=O teaches clear, practical truth about responding to the situations of life. Your R must meet the demands of the E and the O. This is the core message of Step Up. Take the action you need for the outcome you want.
We live in a world of cause-and-effect. It is God’s design; it is how life works. You make choices, and your choices have consequences. The O you get is determined by the R you choose. In order to achieve a desired outcome, you must take the necessary action. If you don’t take effective action—if you don’t choose the necessary R—then you will not get the desired outcome.
The Galatians passage quoted above states it very clearly: You reap what you sow. Outcomes flow from the quality of your responses. If you want a different or better outcome, then you must choose a different or better response.
Paul underscores it in Galatians with a command (Do not be deceived) and a statement (God is not mocked). You will experience the consequences of your choices. It is the immutable law of God.
To “sow to the flesh” is to indulge the passions and impulses of your old nature. It is to set your mind on the things of the fallen world. It is to pursue what 1 John describes as “the desires of the flesh (pleasure) and the desires of the eyes (coveting) and the pride of life (ego).” It is to pursue and participate in things that God forbids.
Galatians instructs us to “sow to the Spirit,” which means to study the word of God, seek God in prayer, and align your life with his commands. It is to love and serve others. It is to worship God in spirit and in truth. It is to set your mind on the things of the Spirit. It is to reject the temptations and seductions of the world and seek first the kingdom of God.
“You reap what you sow” is a timeless truth. It is the simple but profound message of E+R=O.
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9.6)
