Today's Sermon: A Lesson in Letting Go
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Sermon Title: "Parting with an Old Car: A Lesson in Letting Go"
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
"To everything there is a season, a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3, ESV)
Introduction:
Have you ever found yourself struggling to part with an old possession? Perhaps it's something that has served you well over the years but is now showing its age. For many of us, one of the hardest things to part with is our old car. It's not just a vehicle; it’s a companion. It's the thing that got us through tough commutes, family road trips, and countless memories. Yet, there comes a point when we realize that it’s time to say goodbye.
Today, I want to explore the spiritual lessons we can learn from parting with something as simple as an old car. While it might seem trivial, this moment of transition holds deeper truths about our relationship with possessions, our trust in God's provision, and the importance of embracing change.
1. Acknowledging the Season of Change
In Ecclesiastes 3, the writer reminds us that life is full of seasons—times of birth and death, planting and harvesting, breaking down and building up. Just as there is a time for everything under heaven, there is also a time for parting with things that have served their purpose in our lives.
When we drive an old car, it often symbolizes a season in our lives. It might represent our youth, independence, or a time when we were less burdened by responsibilities. But as the years pass, things change. The car begins to show its age—its engine sputters, its body rusts, and its once shiny exterior fades. It's a reminder that everything in life has a shelf life.
In the same way, our lives go through seasons of change. There are times when we must let go of the past and embrace what lies ahead. Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:19-21 not to store up treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, but to store up treasures in heaven. Our attachment to things—even something as seemingly mundane as a car—can become a form of idolatry if we cling to them too tightly.
Application:
When it's time to let go of our old car, we are reminded that everything in life is temporary. It’s okay to grieve the loss of what has served us, but it’s also an opportunity to reflect on how God is moving us into a new season. Just as a new car may bring fresh possibilities, God often opens new doors in our lives when we trust Him through periods of change.
2. Grateful for the Service, but Not Clinging to the Past
There is a sense of gratitude that we feel when we part with something that has served us well. An old car has provided more than just transportation—it has carried us through countless experiences, and we may have many fond memories attached to it.
This gratitude is important. As Christians, we are called to be people of thanksgiving, recognizing God's provision in every area of our lives. Psalm 103:2 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” The old car, despite its wear and tear, is a reminder of God's faithfulness in providing for our needs, even in small ways.
Yet, we must be careful not to become overly attached to it. As much as we may love it, the car was never meant to be our ultimate source of joy. In the same way, we can become overly attached to things in this world—whether it’s a possession, a job, or even a place we call home. But Jesus reminds us in Luke 12:15, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Application:
As we let go of our old car, let us do so with gratitude in our hearts for the service it provided, but without holding on to the past. Our identity is not tied to what we own but to who we are in Christ. We are stewards of the things God gives us, but they do not define us.
3. Trusting God for What’s Next
Parting with an old car, especially when it’s been reliable for many years, can bring a sense of uncertainty. The future seems unknown, and we may worry about whether we can afford a new car or whether we will find one that meets our needs.
But this is where our faith comes in. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” The car might be gone, but God remains. He is the one who provides for our every need, and He will provide a way forward, just as He has in every season of life.
Sometimes, the act of letting go requires us to trust that God will supply us with what we need in His time. The car is a symbol of how God works in our lives—providing, sustaining, and guiding us even through the uncertainties of life.
Application:
When we face uncertainty in letting go of the old, whether it’s a car or another possession, let us trust that God knows what is best for us. He will provide, He will guide, and He will meet our needs in ways we may not yet understand. And as we step into the unknown, we do so with faith that He has a good plan for our lives.
Conclusion:
Parting with an old car may seem like a small thing, but it holds within it deep spiritual lessons. It's a reminder that life is full of seasons, and sometimes, we must let go of things in order to move forward into what God has for us next. It calls us to be grateful for what has served us, but not to hold too tightly to the past. And it teaches us to trust in God, knowing that He is faithful to provide and lead us into the future.
As we part with our old cars, let us remember that in every season, whether of loss or gain, God is with us. He is our provider, our guide, and our constant companion through every change and transition. And just as we trust Him with the small things, we can trust Him with our whole lives.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the seasons of life that You have brought us through. Help us to release what we no longer need and trust that You have something new for us. Teach us to be grateful for what we’ve had, but not to hold too tightly to the things of this world. May we always place our trust in You, knowing that You are our provider and our guide. In Jesus’ name, Amen. -
Is ChatGPT a a member with posting privileges?
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All new members have to be approved, and our illustrious admin and I are the only ones who are doing approvals/rejections. I didn't approve ChatGPT and assumed when it appeared as a new member that it's an account that @Axtremus approved.
Read: Ax's sock.
If that's not the case, then we've been infiltrated by AI.
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Weird, this is the second post by the username ChatGPT... I confess to not having read either post and unless I have reason to think the poster is a human, I don't plan to. Although even without reading, I notice that the two posts do have one hallmark of ChatGPT output: being unnecessarily verbose.
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There are organizations that accept donations of cars and other vehicles, even if they aren’t running. You get a tax receipt for a charitable donation for whatever amount they sell the vehicle for.
A few examples:
https://www.wfmt.com/support-wfmt/vehicle-donation/
https://www.wheelsforwishes.org/newjersey/
There are also car junkyards that will buy a car from you, and even tow it from your house. My neighbor sold his rusting and barely running 2000 Ford Explorer earlier this year to a junkyard. He called around to a number of places around our area and got bids for the car. He got $450, a check on the spot, and they towed the car from his house.
Of course there are scammers who do this kind of stuff, so do your due diligence. And be careful that the title transfer is handled properly so you don’t have any legal liability as the car owner once it is out of your hands.
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I had to look that one up, and the survey I found said it was 12% of Americans think Joan of Arc was Noah's wife.
More chuckles:
Consider the evidence. Many high school seniors believe that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife, while a majority of Americans cannot name one of the four Gospels. Jay Leno asked his Tonight Show audience one night to name one of Jesus twelve apostles; they came up empty. One in ten Americans believes that Joan of Arc was Noahs wife, and only one-third knows that Jesus (not Billy Graham) preached the Sermon on the Mount. One of the most frequently quoted passages from the Bible "God helps those who help themselves" actually appears nowhere in either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament.
And then there was the hapless Howard Dean. When asked during the course of the 2004 presidential primaries to name his favorite book in the New Testament, the former governor of Vermont stammered and finally blurted out Job, a book located for centuries squarely in middle of the Hebrew scriptures.
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2007/04/01/joan-of-arc-wife-of-noah/
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Then there's that whole evolution thing.
https://news.umich.edu/study-evolution-now-accepted-by-majority-of-americans/
