Sowing to the Flesh

March 19, 2018

After yesterday's sermon a number of fine folk had asked me to post up John Stott's quote on sowing to the flesh...so here's his remarks:

"To ‘sow to the flesh’ is to pander to it, to cosset, cuddle and stroke it, instead of crucifying it.  The seeds we sow are largely thoughts and deeds.  Every time we allow our mind to harbour a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fantasy, or wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh.  Every time we linger in bad company whose insidious influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we read (gaze) at pornographic literature, every time we take a risk which strains our self-control, we are sowing, sowing, sowing to the flesh.  Some Christians sow to the flesh every day and wonder why they do not reap holiness. Holiness is a harvest; whether we reap it or not depends almost entirely on what and where we sow.”

I will add on his follow up comments (which didn't make it into the message):

"Paul distinguishes between the two harvests as well as between the two sowings. The results are only logical. If we sow to the flesh; we shall 'from the flesh reap corruption'. That is, a process of moral decay will set in. We shall go from bad to worse until we finally perish. If, on the other hand, we sow to the Spirit, we shall 'from the Spirit reap eternal life'. That is, a process of moral and spiritual growth will begin. Communion with God (which is eternal life) will develop now until in eternity it becomes perfect. Therefore, if we want to reap a harvest of holiness, our duty is twofold.  First, we must avoid sowing to the flesh, and secondly we must keep sowing to the Spirit.  We must ruthlessly eliminate the first and concentrate our time and energies on the second. It is another way of saying (as in Gal.5) that we must 'crucify the flesh' and 'walk by the Spirit. There is no other way of growing in holiness."

This is part of 'The Bible Speaks Today' commentary series, published in the late 60's--still relevant to today.  I'm very grateful for the work of John Stott over the years, his words sometimes sting but wounds from a friend are trustworthy.