I'm going to start off with this:
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:7-9)
We've all heard the saying "you reap what you sow", but are we truly living that way? That verse is pretty self-explanatory, but sometimes it's easier said than done.
You want love? Go show Godly love to someone else. Want to be encouraged? Encourage others. Ever feeling down? Go lift someone up. Feeling insecure? Go compliment someone.
Are you ever in a tough situation where it just seems impossible to do any of that? Let me give you some examples: A person wants nothing to do with you and gets pleasure out of your misery. We've all had an encounter with someone like that. BUT, there's a reason they're that way. Why do you expect love if you haven't shown it?
Ever been around a person who seriously just DRAINS you. Everything they say is negative and honestly it just brings you down. It's hard to show love to people who aren't returning it. No one wants to be that way. They're draining you, but don't give up. Encourage them.
But, what if we are one of those people? We aren't perfect, we get upset, insecure, and sometimes just feel lost.
We want love! We want to be happy and we all want to be someone who other people just enjoy being around.
How are we supposed to get RESPECT, LOVE, ENCOURAGEMENT, FRIENDSHIPS, HAPPINESS... if we don't first give it.
You can't do it backwards. People always say "Well, I don't respect them, because they don't respect me". Or, "Why would I want to help someone who doesn't even like me?"
You reap what you sow. You don't get what you want, then return it. That's reaping before sowing. It doesn't work that way.
Take a step of faith and simply go out of your way for someone who normally wouldn't appreciate it. Compliment someone. Be honest with them. Respect them. It takes time, but it works. It's the only way it will work.
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
