We naturally read these verse as saying that if you do bad things you will reap a bad harvest. Now this is undoubtedly true, but I think Paul is saying more than that here. We read like this because most of our translations use the term "sinful nature". it actually says flesh, and Paul has spent most of the letter contrasting the spirit and the flesh.
So I think Paul is actually saying that if we rely on human resources (ie sowing to the flesh) then we will inevitably reap a bad harvest. Our very nature is corrupted by sin. It is like a polluted water supply. We could build a very nice well, but no matter how good the well we would still be drawing polluted water. There is no point whatsoever expecting our flesh to yield salvation.
Instead we should sow to the Spirit, following Him. Then we will indeed reap a good harvest, one of eternal life. This involves practical hardwork as well, for we must endeavour to do good. We are not doing this in order to earn salvation, but because we are called to do good.
So I think Paul is actually saying that if we rely on human resources (ie sowing to the flesh) then we will inevitably reap a bad harvest. Our very nature is corrupted by sin. It is like a polluted water supply. We could build a very nice well, but no matter how good the well we would still be drawing polluted water. There is no point whatsoever expecting our flesh to yield salvation.
Instead we should sow to the Spirit, following Him. Then we will indeed reap a good harvest, one of eternal life. This involves practical hardwork as well, for we must endeavour to do good. We are not doing this in order to earn salvation, but because we are called to do good.
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