Everyone desires good things for themselves, and that’s only natural. We desire mercy. We expect people to be honest with us. We hope for help in times of trouble. However, the way to get these things is not how we normally would think.
In II Samuel 22:26-28, we read:
“With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury. And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.”
To receive mercy, we must be merciful. If we are not merciful to people, we will not receive mercy. These free graces mentioned above are not gained through paying or somehow obtaining through our goodness. They are extended like gifts which we have given to others, and they are given back to us in return.
Jesus also taught this principle. He said in Matthew 6:14, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Another way to think about this is reaping and sowing. What you put in, you get back. If you plant watermelon seeds, you get watermelon. There’s no world where you plant watermelon and get back carrots. The same goes with truth, mercy, help, and the rest. If we plant these things, they will grow back in our life. This is God’s law!
However, we should be aware that the opposite is also true. If we steal, lie, shortchange, and manipulate, we will get these things back as well. We see this in Jacob’s life so clearly. He was the deceiver and was consequently deceived himself. He shortchanged his brother Esau and was misled by his uncle Laban in return. Jacob’s life is a vivid example of reaping what he sowed.
So, let us strive to be merciful, upright, and pure. By planting these seeds in our lives, we can expect to reap a harvest of the same. This is the divine principle of reaping and sowing, and it applies to every aspect of our lives. Let us be mindful of what we plant, knowing that it will grow back in due season.
