Do you ever read the labels on products? As I held in my hands a juice bottle, one phrase that I never thought of before struck me as teaching a powerful lesson. The phrase was: “No Deposit, No Return”. Of course it means that you don’t have to pay a deposit for the bottle and you will not be able to get any money for it if returned. Perhaps we can think of that message in a different way. “No deposit, no return” could be another way of saying that you will get out of life what you are willing to put into it. If you make no deposit or investment then you will get no return or benefits. This truth fits into many areas of our lives. Those who put no effort into their studies will not reap the benefits of a good education and possibly a good job relating to that education. Those who do not deposit with their employers a hard day’s work may not have a job next week. The team that does not practice hard in their athletic endeavors will not reap the benefits of a winning season.
“No deposit, no return” applies to our spiritual lives as well. In Gal. 6:7-9 the apostle Paul tells us: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”. Depositing or sowing to the Spirit will return a wonderful harvest not only in this life but also in the life to come.
We will get out of our spiritual life just what we are willing to put into it. Are we willing to spend time studying the Bible, to learn the daily discipline of prayer, to practice a walk of holiness, to get beyond ourselves and look for ways to serve others? Are we willing to use our voice, our hands, our minds, and our feet to make a daily deposit for the kingdom of God? Before you throw away your next juice bottle read the label and let its message sink into your heart: “No Deposit, No Return”.
“No deposit, no return” applies to our spiritual lives as well. In Gal. 6:7-9 the apostle Paul tells us: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”. Depositing or sowing to the Spirit will return a wonderful harvest not only in this life but also in the life to come.
We will get out of our spiritual life just what we are willing to put into it. Are we willing to spend time studying the Bible, to learn the daily discipline of prayer, to practice a walk of holiness, to get beyond ourselves and look for ways to serve others? Are we willing to use our voice, our hands, our minds, and our feet to make a daily deposit for the kingdom of God? Before you throw away your next juice bottle read the label and let its message sink into your heart: “No Deposit, No Return”.
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