“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.” (Galatians 6:8, ESV)
There is a new saying among liberal thinkers in our world. That saying is “You do you!” The saying is meant to push the notion that you should do whatever it is that makes you happy. You should do whatever you want to do. Others should not limit your desire to makeover yourself as you see fit!
Sadly, this new saying of “You do you!” is entirely worldly and inherently corruptible. Let me explain. If you tell an alcoholic woman, “You be you!”, you will be giving her the encouragement to go out and drink herself to death if it pleases her. That doesn’t sound so healthy or supportive or biblical, does it? Actually, the phrase “You do you!” is a worldly saying that inherently praises the self-indulgent, prideful, anti-God kind of life.
Throughout my years on this earth, other worldly sayings have had this same dangerous effect. I’m sure you’ve heard of sayings like, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!” and “It’s nobody else’s business what goes on behind closed doors!”. Each of these sayings still heard today in movies and on the internet push the notion that whatever people do in private is their own business and should be encouraged. But what if that business includes child pornography or self-mutilation or adultery or stealing? Obviously, these types of liberal sayings and beliefs carry inherent dangers and temptations.
All of these sayings encourage people to “sow to their own flesh” (Galatians 6:8). They tempt a person to do whatever their worldly flesh inspires. However, to do so invites a lot of temptation. If you are encouraged to practice witchcraft by playing with a Ouija board or torture another person in the household who is younger or naive, won’t that just feed narcissism and cruelty? They say that most serial murders start by torturing animals behind closed doors. This leads to the desire to torture and then murder human beings when the sick individual can get away with it. Again, worldly sayings often reap bad consequences. That is why Galatians 6:8 makes clear that those who “sow to their flesh”, by doing whatever their carnal passions desire, will “reap corruption”. They may not realize it in the moment but allowing their worldly desires full rein will result in sinful and damaging consequences.
A decade ago, I met one of the riches men I have ever known. He was highly intelligent, highly articulate, and driven to achieve. In a conversation over a good meal, he spoke to a single woman at the table. When she explained that she had a date with a wealthy man, he warned her to be careful. Upon finding out her date had made millions in his younger years, the rich man at our table told her that wealthy men believe they can have anything their heart desires. They are not above showering women with money to get sex whenever they want it. This rich man’s advice opened up to me the reality that money often corrupts people, institutions, and governments. When you can acquire whatever your heart desires, you may not stop until sin takes hold and self-destruction will follow soon after.
After a successful college football career in the United States, a graduating senior was drafted by a pro team. Within a few years, this football player had many friends, used cocaine regularly, took steroids religiously, had a home and vacation cabin, and often was seen with two or three women by his side. By the time he was forty-two, he had heart damage from the steroids, two venereal diseases, had spent time in jail for driving while intoxicated, and was arrested twice for drug possession. He had three children by different women with whom he had one-night stands. He spent thousands in child support each month. By age fifty, this hugely successful and supremely talented “star” was dead. Through getting everything he desired, he destroyed his life and future. His mother never did see him come back to church with from the time he was twenty-three until he was wheeled in on a cart carrying his coffin.
I have found only one thing that can stop the worldly, self-destructive tendencies of your fleshly desires. Galatians 6:8 gives that prescription. After warning about “sowing to the flesh and reaping corruption”, this scripture urges the reader to “sow to the Spirit”. This saying implies that you follow God’s word and obey God’s will. Only then will you “from the Spirit reap eternal life”. Put more simply, following selfish passions and worldly ideals will lead to corruption and sin and death. Following God and God’s word will lead to blessing and eternal life.
God has given you the choice to belief in Jesus or deny your Lord. God leaves it up to you to sow in the flesh or sow in the Holy Spirit. You are responsible to choose to follow worldly axioms such as “You do you!” or to follow godly advice found in the Bible such as “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7). I wonder what choices you will make today. I wonder if your choices will result in sin and destruction or life and peace? We’ll see… won’t we? It will show one way or another.
Sadly, this new saying of “You do you!” is entirely worldly and inherently corruptible. Let me explain. If you tell an alcoholic woman, “You be you!”, you will be giving her the encouragement to go out and drink herself to death if it pleases her. That doesn’t sound so healthy or supportive or biblical, does it? Actually, the phrase “You do you!” is a worldly saying that inherently praises the self-indulgent, prideful, anti-God kind of life.
Throughout my years on this earth, other worldly sayings have had this same dangerous effect. I’m sure you’ve heard of sayings like, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!” and “It’s nobody else’s business what goes on behind closed doors!”. Each of these sayings still heard today in movies and on the internet push the notion that whatever people do in private is their own business and should be encouraged. But what if that business includes child pornography or self-mutilation or adultery or stealing? Obviously, these types of liberal sayings and beliefs carry inherent dangers and temptations.
All of these sayings encourage people to “sow to their own flesh” (Galatians 6:8). They tempt a person to do whatever their worldly flesh inspires. However, to do so invites a lot of temptation. If you are encouraged to practice witchcraft by playing with a Ouija board or torture another person in the household who is younger or naive, won’t that just feed narcissism and cruelty? They say that most serial murders start by torturing animals behind closed doors. This leads to the desire to torture and then murder human beings when the sick individual can get away with it. Again, worldly sayings often reap bad consequences. That is why Galatians 6:8 makes clear that those who “sow to their flesh”, by doing whatever their carnal passions desire, will “reap corruption”. They may not realize it in the moment but allowing their worldly desires full rein will result in sinful and damaging consequences.
A decade ago, I met one of the riches men I have ever known. He was highly intelligent, highly articulate, and driven to achieve. In a conversation over a good meal, he spoke to a single woman at the table. When she explained that she had a date with a wealthy man, he warned her to be careful. Upon finding out her date had made millions in his younger years, the rich man at our table told her that wealthy men believe they can have anything their heart desires. They are not above showering women with money to get sex whenever they want it. This rich man’s advice opened up to me the reality that money often corrupts people, institutions, and governments. When you can acquire whatever your heart desires, you may not stop until sin takes hold and self-destruction will follow soon after.
After a successful college football career in the United States, a graduating senior was drafted by a pro team. Within a few years, this football player had many friends, used cocaine regularly, took steroids religiously, had a home and vacation cabin, and often was seen with two or three women by his side. By the time he was forty-two, he had heart damage from the steroids, two venereal diseases, had spent time in jail for driving while intoxicated, and was arrested twice for drug possession. He had three children by different women with whom he had one-night stands. He spent thousands in child support each month. By age fifty, this hugely successful and supremely talented “star” was dead. Through getting everything he desired, he destroyed his life and future. His mother never did see him come back to church with from the time he was twenty-three until he was wheeled in on a cart carrying his coffin.
I have found only one thing that can stop the worldly, self-destructive tendencies of your fleshly desires. Galatians 6:8 gives that prescription. After warning about “sowing to the flesh and reaping corruption”, this scripture urges the reader to “sow to the Spirit”. This saying implies that you follow God’s word and obey God’s will. Only then will you “from the Spirit reap eternal life”. Put more simply, following selfish passions and worldly ideals will lead to corruption and sin and death. Following God and God’s word will lead to blessing and eternal life.
God has given you the choice to belief in Jesus or deny your Lord. God leaves it up to you to sow in the flesh or sow in the Holy Spirit. You are responsible to choose to follow worldly axioms such as “You do you!” or to follow godly advice found in the Bible such as “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7). I wonder what choices you will make today. I wonder if your choices will result in sin and destruction or life and peace? We’ll see… won’t we? It will show one way or another.