A tourist was once travelling through the area where the famed Rabbi Hofetz Chaim was living. Being a great admirer of the rabbi, he made inquiries whether he could visit the rabbi at his home. He soon got a reply that he was welcome to visit the rabbi anytime.

The young tourist thereafter arrived at the rabbi’s home with much excitement. Upon reaching the simple one-roomed house, he was asked to enter. Upon entering, to his amazement he saw only a table, a lamp and a cot, besides many books, inside the house. Surprised by what he saw, the tourist then inquired, “Rabbi, where is the rest of your furniture?” Rabbi Chaim calmly replied, “Where is yours?” Puzzled by the rabbi’s response, the tourist replied, “My furniture? But I’m only a visitor here.” The wise rabbi then replied, “So am I.”

Possible Preaching Angle:

The young tourist learned the valuable and powerful lesson that day that God's people are only pilgrims on this earth. As Jim Reeves wrote in a song, “This world is not our home.” Peter addresses the Christians as, “foreigners and aliens” (1 Peter 2:11). Therefore, since we are “foreigners and strangers on earth” (Heb. 11:13), the Apostle Paul advises us, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Col. 3:2).