Banking 101

DateLine (7/21/05 – Green Pond, SC)

Whenever our family has encountered a crisis I’ve noticed an unusual dynamic at work. Just when we think it can’t get any worst or we’re right at the breaking point a message of encouragement seems to come right out of the blue. It’s always just what we need to hear right when we need to hear it. It’s delivered in the most unusual ways, more often than not from the lips or the pen of another sibling in Christ; a personal touch. During one of these times a few years back it seemed as if the messengers that delivered the most encouraging words were people that Harriett and I had had the opportunity to mentor in the Lord when they were in our Youth Group at Green Pond. It was during this time that I began to realize that God was in the banking business.

Over the years Harriett and I had made deposits from our accounts in the lives of many young people in that small church setting. Never could we have gone to a heavenly ATM and determined what our balance was or the value of the transactions. We always seemed to have enough left in our account to continue making the deposits even if occasionally we felt like we were running a little low.

We never received a statement, really didn’t think about it too much, but instinctively knew that out “bank” was looking after our interests and the interest of the individuals where we were making the deposits. At the same time we were withdrawing funds from our account to deposit in others, it seemed as if others were depositing in our interest bearing account. It was better than a retirement account because one doesn’t have to worry about the value being eroded by inflation and with God as our “fund manager” it’s definitely low risk with maximum earnings potential. The account is not federally guaranteed, its heavenly guaranteed, with unimaginable riches offered as collateral.

Now here’s the good part - You’ll never find a bank on this earth that will do this. God knows when we are nearing those breaking points, times like those that I referenced above. Just when that “bill” arrives at the “house” and we think it’s going to push us into emotional and physical bankruptcy, our “banker” makes a withdrawal from our account and puts it into our pocketbook. Just the right amount just when we need it. The fun part is the unpredictable methods and persons that he uses as the “courier.” Now that’s customer service. Banking 101 (i.e. God’s way) only has two requirements: 1) we must make deposits in the lives of others and 2) we must trust God that He’ll insure that our own account will never run dry. I strongly encourage you to start making your regular deposits now.