You never know when a comment will spark an entire debate in your own head.  Okay, maybe it's just me.
I was ordering some lunch at Blazen Burrito in the mall.  I mentioned to the check-out man that he charged me only for my burrito and not my cheese dip, so I owed him four more dollars.  He looked stunned,  "wow...look at the karma you're putting off.  All that good you're giving will come back to you." 
"um...no sir.  That's not karma.  I love Jesus so I just did what was right."

According to karma, the four dollars I rightfully paid will come back to me somehow.  Someone else may buy a meal, more money will be added to my bank account, more positive things, attitudes, or actions will come my way because I sowed a positive seed.

That's interesting: because in reality, I'm four bucks short.  I basically ate the money and my stomach hurts because I'm allergic to cheese but I eat it anyway.

I know there is some proverbial wisdom in you reap what you sow.  But honestly, this entire year of Chris' and my life has been marked by trials--most of which I can't mention. Doing the right thing has cost us our house, our vehicle, our money, our time, our emotional energy, relationships, reputation, sleep, and the list could go on.  We have added stress and physical ailments to our life.  So do I just hold out a little while longer until the rewards come?

 Jesus said people would hate you if you follow Him.  He said if someone slaps you on one cheek, give him the other one.  He said if you do good, you'll suffer.  He was sinless, and He was sinned against more than anyone.  It caused tension between him and His family.  He was homeless when He could have been hanging out in Heaven.  He had a lot of arguments.  He was abandoned, abused, hated, mocked, spit upon....He sweat blood, He spilled blood.  It doesn't sound like a lot of positive energy came His way.

So my quiet time today came as I sat in the crowded mall and sent my children off to play.  I know the Bible says you reap what you sow--and more than once.  So what does that mean?  Does it mean that since I rightfully paid four dollars for my cheese dip, that I will receive more money to be a glutton with little self-control?
2 Corinthians 9:6,8 "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.....And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

If you sow grace, you do not necessarily receive grace from other people.  The point is: if you sow grace, your are given more grace by God, so that you can give more grace--even to people who are ungracious.

If you sow kindness, you are given more kindness by God so that you can give more kindness to people who are not kind.

If you sow generousity, God is generous to you so that you can be more generous to people who may not be generous.

If you sow love, God gives you His love so that you can love others.  Even to love those who hate you.

The destruction that we sow only leads to a destructive life.  That's all it gives us, and we become useless.  But when we sow to God, our lives become more useful.  We don't get it back by other people, we get the reward of sharing in the life and death of Christ.  Jesus is the reward, and He is the only positive energy we should expect.