Proverbs 14:14 (NKJV)
"The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man [will be satisfied] from above."
This is a huge verse. To be filled with your own ways not only means that you reap what you sow but also implies the inablity to ever get out of your own trap.
Meaning that if you backslide in your heart then you will only have opportunity to do things your way, the way you see as proper for you.
Furthermore, it says that you backslide in your heart - not in your actions. That’s worth thinking about. Most unlearned people - even and especially Christians believe that your actions are what count but what the Lord has taught me is that actions are a byproduct of heart condition.
Your heart is your mind, will, and emotions - what is in your heart will come out in your mouth and then your actions. As Jesus said - out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Matt 12:34; Luke 6:45
Matthew 12:34 (NKJV)
“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
Luke 6:45 (NKJV)
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
Therefore, the reason that a backslider in their mind, will, and emotions is filled with their own ways is because they create their environment with their mouths.
Deut 30:19, Proverbs 18:21
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV)
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;"
Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)
"Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit."
In juxtopposition to the backslider is the good man. God said that there is none good but God so how can He now state that it is a “good” man that is satisfied from above?
In simple terms, when a person is saved (in the Old Testament, they would need to follow all of the law), they become a new creation. They have the Lord God residing within them, possessing the mind of Christ. Consequently, they are considered "good" as they now have God within them.
Matthew 19:17 (NKJV)
"So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that is,] God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Mark 10:18 (NKJV)
"So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that is,] God."
Luke 18:19 (NKJV)
"So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that is,] God."
If this is the case then they (the good) are satisfied from above. This squares exactly with scripture because scripture states that God satisfies us.
Psalms 107:9 (NKJV)
"For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness."
Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)
"Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ,"
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Finally, the notion that this verse is simply another way to say “You reap what you sow” is a superficial, unlearned, unobservant analysis of it.
It is evident that the "good" individual is harvesting the fruits of Jesus' labor. It could be contended that what the good person sows is their life devoted to Jesus, and there is a valid point to be made about that. Nevertheless, stating merely that you reap what you sow fails to provide the uninitiated with the correct insight that by embracing Christ, they will reap what He has sown.
This is a very important verse.
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