The Fifth Idea: The Parable of the House

There once was a man who wanted to buy a house. So, this man made a list of all the things he wanted in a house. He made a list of wants, needs, and then he made a budget.
On a certain day the man went out to look at houses. As he looked he walked through many halls, rooms, doors, pantries, garages, and beautiful backyards, but nothing he saw in his budget made him feel as though he would be completely happy. None of them fulfilled his needs and wants good enough to call the house a home. Then, he came upon 1110 Mountain street. It was the perfect size, the perfect space, the perfect floor plan, and the imperfect price.
As soon as he heard the cost he drew back. It was far out of his budget. If he wanted to buy this house he would have to work for at least another two months for the down payment. He decided to contact the owner of the house to see what he could do.
When they met he inquired how long the house had been on the market, and the owner replied a little over two weeks. This time frame was not enough to tell the man whether or not there would be other people that would buy the house in the time he was working, but he didn't dare ask the owner if other people were interested in the house as well. He was trying his best to be aloof to see if he could get the price lower. The man liked the house, but it was a lot to sacrifice to get the promise of being able to buy it when he was ready.
The owner informed the man that in three weeks the house would be pulled off the market for remodeling, but that the sign would remain in the yard. He also informed the buyer that if someone was interested in the house and could provide the owner with a contract and promise to buy that as soon as the remodeling was over he would sell it. The man weighed his options. If he promised the man now that he would buy the house then he wouldn't be able to get the price any lower, but if he could work and wait until the remodeling was complete he could pay when he believed he would be ready and move in right away. There was also the problem that someone else would be interested in the home as well and make an offer better and more solid than his.
So, what will he do? Will he simply wait? Will he make his promise to buy? Will he lose his house? We don't know.


This parable has no ending right now. It has yet to be made, but you can imagine the many ways it could end. In each ending a different lesson can be learned, and in each ending the fate of the seller and the buyer change. In some endings the seller is satisfied and has a good promise his house will be sold, and in others the seller must wait without promise or security that his house will be sold. In some endings the buyer will acquire his house, and in others it will be lost.
Because this is a parable I'll let you discover everything you could learn, but I will say this: With all things in life, we don't have it until we have it. Waiting is good, but don't wait too long to do or get the things you want. No matter what everyone else does or what anyone else says, you should do what's best for you. And if you want to wait think about what it is you are sacrificing and weigh that. Remember, sacrifice is giving up something good for something better, but if you give up the good thing and never get the better then all you've done is give up.