From an unknown source:
“Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an action and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” Gen. 38 illustrates this progression through the life of Judah after he sowed wrong thoughts.
Sow a Thought and Reap An Action
Judah turned aside from his brothers and conceived Er, Onan and Shelah from a certain Canaanite (Gen. 38:1-5). Refusing accountability from brothers leads to action of marrying someone outside the faith.
Sow an Action and Reap a Habit
Judah gave Tamar to be Er’s wife. Er was evil in sight of Lord and took his life. Onan wasted his seed to not give offspring to his brother and it was displeasing to God. He took his life (Gen. 38:6-10). Irresponsibility in family matters leads to God’s judgment.
Judah told Tamar to remain a widow until Shelah grew up for he was afraid he may die like his brothers. She was not given to Judah’s son, Shelah. After Judah’s wife died, Tamar disguised herself and received payment for sex with her father-in-law. She conceived, removed her veil and put on her widow’s garments (Gen. 38:11-19). Not keeping promises devalues others so they remain unfulfilled.
Sow a Habit and Reap a Character
Judah searched unsuccessfully for the “temple prostitute.” Three months later he was informed that Tamar played the harlot and bore a child by harlotry. Judah’s immediate response was for her to be burned. Once he learned the child was his doing, Judah said, “She is more righteous that I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son, Shelah.” The twins, Perez and Zerah, were born to Tamar (Gen. 38:20-30). An unaccountable lifestyle bears character of immorality and idolatry.
What do you think or obsess about?
Guard your heart from things that distract you and think on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1).
