Love Deposits Instead of Bitter Withdrawals

Introduction: Do you have a relationship that needs some work? Truthfully, all of our relationships could use some work. But how can we have healthy and wholesome relationships that last a lifetime? 
 
Question: Do you have a checking account at the bank? What if you are always making withdrawals and never deposits into your account? Obviously, it will become overdrawn. Likewise, the same is true with a relationship, whether it be marriage, parents/children, or friendship.

So what is the answer? The answer is by MAKING “LOVE DEPOSITS instead of BITTER withdrawals from your RELATIONSHIPS”!

Consider the following:
 

LOVE DEPOSITS:

1. Love Deposit – Affirmation

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Eph 4:32)

2. Love Deposit – Appreciation

“18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1Thess 5:18)

3. Love Deposit – Participation 

“2Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Gal 6:2)

4. Love Deposit – Alteration

“17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Cor 5:17)
 

BITTER WITHDRAWALS:

 1. Bitter Withdrawal – Anger

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” (Eph 4:26)

2. Bitter Withdrawal – Resentment 

“31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” (Eph 4:31)

3. Bitter Withdrawal – Annoying habits

“25Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.” (Prov 12:25)

4. Bitter Withdrawal – Negative  words

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Prov 18:21)
 

Conclusion: The Choice is ours! Are we going to continue with anger and resentment in our relationships or are we going to FOLLOW the Word of God by the Power of the Holy Spirit of God? If we do, then we can make “LOVE DEPOSITS instead of BITTER WITHDRAWALS” in our relationship accounts.

Love y’all, 
Dr. Randy Reese