What do you want?
If you want grace from others, give grace.
If you want understanding, give understanding.
If you want time, give time.
If you want love, give love.
This is a spiritual principle and it is played out daily in every person's life everywhere no matter who they believe in.
If you want to be manipulated and deceived by others, do the same to them. If you rip others off, lie to others, you will get the same treatment.
Jesus says in Luke 6:38: "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
The thing about reaping what you've sown is that what you've sown multiplies -- - this is great news if you've sown the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self control). This isn't great news if you've sown to your flesh. Think about that then read what the deeds of the flesh are (according to Galatians 5:19-21): "immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carrousing, and things like these"
Don't give up. Sow, sow, sow spiritual fruit in other people's lives, in your life, in your world. You will reap -- but remember, the growing season takes time. There is a season of planting followed by a growing season which is then followed by harvest. There are no shortcuts.