With this desire to come alongside our brothers and sisters who have basic needs like food, we have found it necessary (and desirable) to sell a number of our worldly possessions.

The single idea that has proven most helpful in this process is understanding and embracing the reality that this earth is not our home.

Here’s one such story that has encouraged us along the way:

When I was a pastor, a wonderful couple came to my office and told me they wanted to be able to give more money to the church and to missions, but they couldn’t if they were going to keep saving to build their dream house.  They said, “We’ve always had this dream for a beautiful home in the country, and we can’t seem to shake it.  Is that wrong?”

I told them I thought their dream of a perfect home was from God.  I think they were surprised to hear that.  Then I said, “It’s just that your dream can’t be fulfilled here in this world.” Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions & Eternity, pg 136, 137

When I discover that I am not giving up this dream forever–or this thing I cannot keep anyway; it’s almost as if I’m not really parting with my possessions, but simply getting the trade-in deal of a lifetime.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” ~Jim Elliot