Here's a story from a member of our church family about their own struggle with deciding to sell possessions rather than allowing them to become an idol.

Every year I feel my relationship with God grow deeper. As that relationship with God evolves, all aspects of my personal life are affected. I think differently, I see and hear things differently and I feel things differently. As my relationship with him grows, I start to receive clarity in different areas of my life because I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. Because I don't hear the "background noise" any more, God's words become clear to me.

This year I have received some clarity regarding my personal finances. My wife and I have been blessed in many ways, one of them being our finances. I am not saying that we are "rich" but we have been blessed. For the last several years we have lived very comfortable life styles. We have a nice house, cars and the toys that we wanted to purchase. I had not felt convicted about our spending in the past because I figured that God blessed me with those things and that they were good. After all, a non-Christian might become a Christian if they see that God blessed me, right? At least that is what I wanted to believe.

I don't believe that God was telling me that I must be poor or that I must suffer financially to be a good Christian but he is very clear about the fact that he must come first in my life. We purchased a piece of property several months ago and the majority of our savings was used for the down payment. All of the sudden we were in a position where we didn't feel as comfortable as we did before. There wasn't a nest egg anymore and that feeling was one that we were not used to. My wife and I tithe like we are supposed to and we have actually come to a place where we really enjoy tithing. I have to admit though there were a few moments that I was tempted to give less money to the church for a little while until we got ahead again. Thankfully wisdom prevailed and we came to the decision to sell something so that we would have money in our savings again. Initially I told her that I didn't care what we sold. After giving it more thought though, I realized there was one toy that I did not want to part with.

My favorite toy was a motorcycle (chopper) that I dreamed about getting for several years. I didn't get a chance to ride it very often but I still enjoyed it very much. After praying about it for several days it was clear to me that the motorcycle had to go. I had put too much value on that motorcycle. I knew that the one thing I wanted to keep the most should be the one to go because of the value that I had given it in my heart. I should always be willing to let any of my possessions go and if I get to the point where it becomes too difficult then I clearly know that it must go. I don't think the possessions are bad as long as I realize they are just possessions and that they really aren't important. It was not an easy decision to make but I know it was the right decision and I do feel really good about making it. As I prayed about it, God reminded me of verses like these.

2 Kings 17:15
They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, "Do not do as they do," and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do.

My motorcycle wasn't necessarily and idol but it did have too high of a value to me. The reason I probably liked it so much was because of the "cool factor". That would not be important to me unless I was trying to impress other people. I did not want to imitate the nations (or act like non-Christians). If I am really a changed person then people should be able to see fruit in my life.

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

I have to keep myself in check by recognizing when I am giving too much value to money or possessions because if I don't do that I will start to wander away from my faith.