Randy Alcorn: Roadblocks

There are many roadblocks to giving: unbelief, insecurity, pride, idolatry, desire for power and control. The raging current of our culture—and often our churches—makes it hard to swim upstream. It’s considered normal to keep far more than we give.

I’m convinced that the greatest deterrent to our giving is this: the illusion that earth is our home. Where we choose to store our treasures depends largely on where we think our home is. Those who think of earth as their real home will naturally want to pile up treasures here. Those who think of heaven as their real home will naturally want to pile up treasures there. It all comes down to the question, “Where’s your home?” To the Christian, God gives a clear answer. The only question is whether we’ll live as if that answer is true…

The act of giving is a vivid reminder that our life is all about God, not about us. It says, “I am not the point, God is the point. He does not exist for me. I exist for him.” God’s money has a higher purpose than my affluence. Giving is a joyful surrender to a greater Person and a greater agenda. Giving affirms Christ’s lordship. It dethrones me and exalts him. It breaks the chains of Mammon that would enslave me and transfers my center of gravity to heaven… Giving is the only antidote to materialism.”

Randy Alcorn in Money, Possessions, and Eternity (Carol Stream: Tyndale House, 2003) 166, 197, 292. Download the book in PDF form freely here. And enjoy the header photos this week from Trinity College, Bristol, where I did my Ph.D. in New Testament.

This is the fourth of seven posts from this book at this time. Special thanks to Courtney Markley for collaborating with me to identify key quotes from this great book. If you missed the back story on these posts, go back and read the post on 18 October 2026.

Alcorn repeatedly makes the point that our home is in heaven to shake and wake us to this eternal reality.

And not only on the road to heaven do we have the ditch of asceticism on the left and materialism on the right, we have roadblocks that get in the way: unbelief, insecurity, pride, idolatry, desire for power and control.

If you struggle with unbelief, you are not the first person to admit that. Call for help. Jesus helps people who say, “I believe, help me with my unbelief.”

Some battle with insecurity. Re-read today’s Scripture. God sees your fear and insecurity. You can trust Him to care for you better than you can care for yourself. After all, He made you and loves you!

Other battle with the three temptations Jesus overcame in the wilderness: control, idolatry, and pride. How did He overcome them. When tempted with lies He responded with truth from the Scriptures.

As giving is the antidote to materialism, I want to challenge everyone to pray about how you might increase your giving as we approach the end of 2026.

But think about it in bigger terms than an amount of money. Think of it as putting it into a parcel and shipping it to your eternal home. Now picture yourself in heaven, getting the parcel.