Sowing and Reaping In Relation to Disposition

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Galatians 6:7-8 nkjv

Sowing and reaping is often viewed in relation to principles if I do "this" and "that" will happen. But I feel that Galatians 6:7-8 is talking about a person's disposition more than a particular action: if a person expresses or "sows to" their higher nature, they will reap the consequences and strengthen that aspect of their nature - the same is true about expressing the lower nature. This concept of higher nature and lower nature coexisting in a person's personality and vying for attention and expression, brings us back to Galatians 5:7, "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."

I just find it fascinating that there is this reference in the Bible to sowing and reaping in relation to disposition, personality or nature. There doesn't seem to be any references in scripture that attribute sowing and reaping to a particular course of action, from which we derive principles.

I concede to the fact that Paul lists the "Works of the Flesh" being things like lewdness and adultery. But again, I feel that Paul is simply stating that these things are typical expressions of a person who is yielded to their lower nature, and therefore, has a "bad" disposition. Apostle Paul is not necessarily saying, "Don't do these things - these are really bad!" There seems to be a mindset in the church that if you can make a taboo out of something, you can manipulate people's behaviour so that they don't do those things - but that simply does not work. We can tie this line of thinking in with the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:15-20.

15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Matthew 7:15-20 nkjv

In conclusion, I believe that it is much more important to focus on disposition, who you are on the inside, rather than a set of principles that Christians should follow.