Sermon Illustrations

In his book, "The Treasure Principle" Randy Alcorn says that the greatest deterrent to giving is the illusion that Earth is our home. He tells the following story.

Suppose your home is in France and you're visiting America for three months, living in a hotel. You're told that you can't bring anything back to France on your flight home. But you can earn money and mail deposits to your bank in France.

Would you fill your hotel room with expensive furniture and wall hangings? Of course not. You'd send your money where your home is. You would spend only what you needed on the temporary residence, sending your treasures ahead so they'd be waiting for you when you got home.

… Our bridegroom, the carpenter, is building a place for us in heaven. Everything we send on ahead will be waiting there for us. It's our gift to him, but in his generosity, he will give those treasures back to us.

Randy Alcorn. The Treasure Principle: Discovering the secret of joyful giving. Life Change Books, Multinoma Publishers: 2001. Page 45-46

Related Sermon Illustrations

Related Sermons

  • The Poverty Mindset

    Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Apr 13, 2013
    based on 4 ratings
     | 38,545 views

    One false concept is that poverty has some mysterious refining qualities. Some believe that it is spiritual to be poor. That is not the way God lives and neither does He want us to live that way. Just look how He blessed Abraham. The Bible teaches us that

  • Choices Have Consequences Series

    Contributed by David Owens on May 29, 2012
    based on 1 rating
     | 34,852 views

    Paul encouraged the Thessalonians with praise, promises and prayer. The promises included the fact that the righteous will be rewarded and the wicked will be punished.

  • Invest In God's Kingdom

    Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Feb 2, 2013
    based on 1 rating
     | 33,291 views

    To be a good steward we must not waste what has been given to us. We must invest what has been given to us and must show a return for it.We are given resources according to our individual abilities. We are all different. It is a fact that some people are

  • Funeral Sermon

    Contributed by Ken Pell on Mar 17, 2012
    based on 1 rating
     | 32,116 views

    A funeral sermon for a believer.

  • Rewards For Serving Christ Series

    Contributed by Dennis Davidson on May 7, 2015
    based on 4 ratings
     | 31,684 views

    After many stern warnings and instructions to His missionaries, to His disciple makers, Jesus closes the discourse with a promise. Those who faithfully served the Lord & who faithfully support these workers will be rewarded.