Bank Illustration

I love direct deposit, especially when it drops early! Its a good feeling to look into my account to find that the deposit has been made on time. On the other hand, I'm not a fan of direct withdraw. Sometimes, it gets taken out earlier than it is supposed to, and that is not good, especially when you're waiting on the direct deposit. Our spiritual experience can be like this. We love it when someone pours into us, when they minister to us in a direct way. We love to be on the receiving end of a blessing. ON the other hand, when it is time to give of ourselves, we may not be ready. We may not know what to say because our "bank" is running low. 2 Timothy 4:2 says to "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct,rebuke, and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction." In order to be prepared, we have to be actively seeking to grow in relationship with Christ. When we put in the work, the Spirit deposits what we need in order to be prepared. He gives us the things that we need in order to be ready for the withdrawal so that we can deposit into others with patience and careful instruction for the glory of God.