The other day I was window shopping for a replacement vehicle for my 14-year old car.
My trusty old Pontiac now has 166,000 miles on it.
It still runs (most of the time), but it’s showing its age.
For example, it overheats if caught in traffic (forcing me to jump off at the nearest exist just to keep the car moving).
I make it a game to make it to work without the car overheating.
Interstate 95 in Virginia usually puts up a good fight.
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The fact that I even have a car places me in elite status worldwide.
There are approximately 600 million vehicles in the world today. Of those about 240 million are found in the United States.
Considering there are 6.76 billion people in the world, roughly 9% of the world’s population have a vehicle.
That number is overstated when you consider how many people (especially Americans) own more than one vehicle.
Simply stated, over 90% of the world does not have access to their own automotive transportation.
(Source: wiki answers)
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There is no question Americans are blessed (or should I say cursed) with an obscene about of abundance.
We are the model for consumption.
And, for millions of Americans, the most visible symbol of our property on a daily basis is our vehicle.
We travel to work in it.
We take it to the mall.
We park it at the gym.
We maneuver it through the drive thru for coffee or dinner.
And our vehicles transport us to church.
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A biblical case could be made for Christians to not “own” a vehicle at all if it involves financing or leasing it.
However, I’m here to ask today…
How much is too much?
For example, should Christians drive luxury SUVs?
(That question is triggered by the photo herein that I snapped in a dealership lot in Virginia).
I’m sure the irony of the license plate is not lost on you either.
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As an American who does not live directly in a city and have access to public transportation, my vehicle does serve a purpose almost every day.
For the record though, I’m not in the market for a Cadillac or anything comparable in terms of luxury and price tag.
I do find it tasteless to promote a love for Jesus on the back of a $70K Escalade.
(For additional thought, I wrote a blog post on whether Christians should identify themselves on their vehicles.. aka the Jesus Fish)
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I feel humbled and embarrassed to even have this conversation about vehicles.
I also recognize that less than 5% of the world’s population have their own computer and internet access.
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It’s unfortunate so many “Christians” (myself included) regularly confuse the rewards of God’s Kingdom with the rewards of the World:
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6)
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What example do you feel Christians should be setting with their possessions?
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Brent – those are good questions. Americans are “blessed” with so much excess. We feel the pressure to keep up with our peers. Some of us may be preached the “gospel of prosperity” message in our churches. I think its good to remember how simply Jesus lived. Also, when making big decisions in life, why not ask, “Does this bring glory to God?” Thanks for making me think!
Thank you Mary. I applaud your question…Does this bring glory to God? And if it is an automobile, how are we using it? e.g. Are we transporting those in need? Does it increase our opportunities to reach others in service?
Good thoughts, Brent. I am sure I am not the only one to notice how the way we drive our cars reveals our true selves. It hurts when I see a car identified as belonging to a Christian being driven in a aggressive, rude way; and that is especially true when I realize I have offended other drivers with my own driving decisions. My own driving also frequently exposes my judgmental and prejudicial attitudes as I become angry at other drivers when they offend me.
May the Lord help us to be in prayer before and during our driving to follow the 1 Corinthian 13 exhortation: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Blessings.
Boyd
Thank you Boyd. I think about my driving too. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13 are a powerful reminder indeed of what is possible through the Holy Spirit.
We read this to group of senior christians at meeting recently.
Wow what a “firestorm” this cause. The total rejection of equating any discussion with excesses and Christianity was evident. The reaction was so volatile you would have thought the diety of Christ had been attacked. You really hit a nerve brother. I challenged the group to blog with you on this matter.
Thanks for your fresh thoughts which cause us to consider exactly what it means to “follow Me”.
Thank you brother Oscar for sharing. I’d say it is a good thing to ignite a fire storm if it leads people to further discussion based in the Word.
I have a car is 17 years old and counting and I thank God every day that it still works. I could get another car but what for? As my relationship with God has become stronger the less attached I have become to material possessions. I concern myself more with helping others now. When we meet God, he will not be asking, “What kind of car did you drive?”
Great post Brent!
Thank you Sherida for sharing your own thoughts and car experience. Congratulations on a vehicle 17 years old! You set a great example for others. I will confess I decided to replace by trusty Pontiac after 166K miles. It wasn’t doing so well, leaking fluids every day. I’m confident its replacement (a Subaru) will be around for at least as many miles!
I meant to say “that is”. That was a phone message error. Brent, if my car was a person it would be going to college. (on a scholarship) LOL Drive your new car until it evaporates.
One of the traps of the devil is to try to get us into a role whereby we judge another person’s intent without knowing any of the particulars…case in point, driving an SUV.
How do we know if the person driving it isn’t borrowing it from someone else for an errand?
How do we know that the person didn’t receive it as a gift?
Do they know that they are thanking God for being able to drive and to be able to drive this nice ride?
Do we know that the person just came back from dropping off a ton of food at a food bank or soup kitchen?
We know less than we think we might know about these possible people, but what do we know about ourselves? How we think about these things should tell us about ourselves and how we are working out our own salvation, not anyone else’s.
Thanks,
Mark
Good observations Mark. I appreciate your insight on this blog.
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