WHATEVER!
by Rev. J. Loren Russell, B.S., MDiv
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38 KJV).
This scripture is often referenced at churches when it’s time for tithes and offerings. It’s also used when a sermon is preached about the bountiful blessings God bestows on those who give generously. Every tither has come to this realization. The Lord has proven over and over again that there is correlation between giving and receiving it relates to financial blessings. But, have you considered that there are innumerable blessings wrapped up in this text that go far beyond the financial? Have you thought about the fact that The Lord blesses bountifully in proportion to whatever it is that we give? Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (NKJV). In our post modern vernacular, we say, “What goes around comes around.” That promise is so far beyond the financial.
In the wake of one of the most insidious crimes against humanity in recent memory, the horrific murder of nine innocent Christians in their house of worship, one has to wonder how to respond in light of these scriptures. How do we respond to these acts of terrorism; acts that are reflective of a mind set that has permeated an increasingly growing segment of Americans? The natural response is to repay evil for evil, hate for hate, and an eye for an eye. While it may appear that retaliation will soothe the soothes not reality, it will render us all bruised, battered, broken and blind. The two scriptures I’ve noted in this article suggests there is an alternative. “Give and it shall be given.., whatsoever you sow, that shall you also reap.” We have to ask ourselves what we want as a people and as a nation? Romans 12:19-21 has an alternative remedy;
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NKJV)
If the Bible is correct, if we allow our emotions, our anger, our fears, or our differences to determine our sowing, what we will reap in return will not improve, but only worsen our circumstances. This incident reveals spiritual wickedness in high places and a time for us to come together as a United States, not to tear each ourselves apart. This not only applies to our desire for retribution, but also to the need to show mercy. If we sow retaliation, the Bible says we will reap retaliation. But if we sow mercy, mercy will be reaped. If the Bible is right, we shall reap what we sow. Not some things, but “whatever” a man or woman sows, that he or she will also reap. God is not mocked.
The prophet Micah told us many years ago what The Lord requires of us when he wrote, “And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 NKJV).
It’s not going to be easy, but my father used to tell me all the time, “If it were easy, anybody could do it.” We have to weed out the seeds of hatred and fear to reap a harvest of love and compassion in our nation. Those who stand by and do nothing, knowing that hatred and fear is being planted into the hearts and minds of our children must speak out. They can no longer keep silent, hiding behind their color, their ethnicity, or their privilege. If seeds of hatred, seeds of wrath, seeds of injustice are sown, we will reap a harvest of death and destruction. We all must all be intentional in sowing seeds of love, seeds of healing, seeds of compassion, seeds of mercy, and seeds of justice. Then we can expect to reap a harvest of love, a harvest of healing, a harvest of compassion, a harvest of mercy, a harvest of justice. Whatever we sow, that we shall also reap!
Be blessed +++
Rev. J. Loren Russell, BS, MDiv is an associate minister at both Goodwill Baptist and Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx.
The views and opinions expressed on this web site are solely those of the authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of The Bronx Chronicle, its staff, and/or contributors to our news site.
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