Karma or Harvest?

I seldom go through a week without someone seeing or hearing someone use the term “karma.”   “He got his karma.,” “Karma is a pain!,” “I’ll give him his karma.” or “Your karma is coming.”  In these contexts, it is nearly always dealing with someone getting back in kind for their wrong actions.  Some of the time, it is an excuse for revenge.  These ideas are derived uses of the term which comes out of Buddhism and Hinduism, though the meaning has been changed to some degree.

My concern is that this attitude seems to be prevalent in many who would claim to be Christians.  Karma is not a biblical concept.  The biblical concept is harvest.  If I go and plant a corn seed in my garden, I expect to pick corn when the plant matures.  The same is true for beans, tomatoes, or whatever I plant.  I expect to harvest in the same kind as the type of seed that I have planted.

God in His word tells us in Galatians 6:7–9 (ESV) “⁷Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

All through scripture we see people receiving the consequences of their actions.  He reaffirms that here in this passage.  The things we sow, or plant will come back to us.  We see it in the lives of individuals in scripture.  How many can you name?  Do we see it in the lives of nations? Do you remember them?

Some think it is their responsibility to pay back for the wrong people have done to them.  This violates Romans 12:17 where we are commanded, “Repay no one evil for evil.” And vs. 19 “Do not avenge yourselves.”   Why does God tell us this? Verse 19 continues, “Vengeance, is Mine, I will repay.”  When we try to pay back individuals for wrongs that they have done to us we are trying to take the place of God.  We need to let God work in His way in His time.   He sees, He knows, He cares, and He has promised.  If we take vengeance upon ourselves, then we are wrong, and will bring consequences upon ourselves.  Our part is to “repay evil with good.” (Rom. 12:21)

The greatest challenge today as you read this is to evaluate what you are sowing or planting with your life.  Have you trusted Christ as Savior so that you can sow to the spirit?  If you have not, you are simply sowing to the flesh.  The final harvest then will be corruption; eternal punishment in the lake of fire.  Put your faith in Christ today, and begin to serve Him, then you will know a blessed harvest!