Think about all the gifts and abilities found in the human race: creativity, industriousness, entrepreneurship, managerial ability, leadership, generosity, and many more. Some invest their gifts in the Kingdom of God, while others invest in the kingdom of this world. The difference in using one’s gifts for oneself rather than for God is what the New Testament refers to as sowing to the flesh versus sowing to the Spirit. “Flesh” doesn’t necessarily mean “evil”; it basically refers to the priority of self above all—whether for good or evil. Choosing self over God is called sowing to the flesh.

The New Testament is also clear about the outcomes of sowing to the flesh versus sowing to the Spirit. The former leads to “corruption”—meaning eternal separation from God—while the latter leads to eternal life with God. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13).

Ask yourself daily: Am I living today for myself or for Christ?

The wisdom of the flesh is always exclaiming against the mysteries of God.
John Calvin