"Bounce Protection"

Sometimes banks have a customer service called "bounce protection." I am not sure I really like it. It is nothing more than when you write a check without enough money in the bank, instead of returning the check as 'insufficient funds', they cover it and charge you a whopping fee! I know mistakes can be made and it can be a valuable help for those few times one is overdrawn, but the danger is one can become comfortable and use it consistently to be overdrawn. There needs to be a lifestyle change in order to not abuse this service. You end up paying more in fees than what the resending of a check may cost.

There are more than one way to be "overdrawn". Couples make too many emotional demands on another's emotional bank without making deposits. The wife tells the husband to "trust me" while breaking that trust over and over and over again. She consistently writes emotional checks, looking for "bounce protection", while making very few emotional deposits. The husband consistently writes "hot checks" while emotionally hurting his wife, only to say "I'm sorry! It won't happen again" without ever making a deposit of security into her heart. In both cases, the giving runs out and the "bounce protection" comes to a halt because the limit has been reached. Neither gives the other a reason to believe that they truly want the account built up by making more deposits than they take out because they do so little to change their heart and lifestyles.

This not only happens between spouses but you see it between parents and children, friends and in the church. It seems there are those that bend people over and over until they break and then they complain when the one shattered too many times isn't acting like they still have an open account!

Isn't it rather unique that the very ones who call out for 'unconditional love' of another usually has no clue because they are not in an every day stream of abuse in some form or another. I know our Lord laid down His life for us unconditionally, but He does not allow hard hearted, unrepentant people a free ride in His love! There are conditions on the relationship with Him. When there is repentance, a real sorrow for offending or hurting, there must be a deposit made with that sorrow. Just read Luke 11:23-26 and make the application! Too many are sorry, according to the world that they have been caught or their hand called with no intention of changing their attitudes and lives. They continually call on the other for "bounce protection" when they go beyond the limit. Godly sorrow produces real results that leads to salvation. (II Cor. 7:9-10)

What about you? How serious are you about your walk with the Lord. It will be reflected in your dealing with those around you. And get on your knees and thank the Lord for those who have to deal with your continually 'overdrawn' without making deposits that they continue their "bounce protection" to help you along. Let's learn to deal rightly with one another and help each other make it to heaven!