I Needed a Car

I was 24, single, and living in the Chicgo area. I was working at a dead-end job and in debt. In an attempt to get a handle on my spending I attended a Good $ense Finance course at my church,Willow Creek in Barrington, Illinois.

I volunteered for Willow’s cars program, where volunteers repaired used donated vehicles and made them available for single moms. I like working on engines and besides my old Honda was on its last legs and I hoped to get some tips on how to keep it running.

About this time I received in the mail a promotion from my credit union informing me that I was preapproved for a car loan up to $7500. That set the wheels turning in my head. I figured if I were going to seek a better job I would need a better car.

Armed with my loan approval letter, I drove off to a used car dealer. I showed the flyer to the salesman and off we went into the car lot. Funny how every car he showed me was on sale for $7500.

I returned home excited about the prospects of owning a better car. That week at church I shared my excitement about buying a car with my Good $ense teacher. I told him about the $7500 loan and I showed him a particular car that I had found in Auto Trader.

He was friendly but firm in his reaction. "God does not want you to go further in debt, my teacher said, "why don't you trust God for the car."

His words, while spoken kindly, hit me like a cold shower. I bristled but admitted I had agreed not to take out any more loans. At the Good $ense course I had developed a spending plan which was designed to help me live within my income and to pay down existing debt. We were told good stewardship of the resources we have honors God.

When I returned home I threw the Auto Trader in the trash. I would trust God.

The next day I received a call "out of the blue" from the leader of the Cars Team who asked how I was doing and could I help out the next weekend.

The following Saturday I was working with other volunteers in the cars program. I mentioned to the chief mechanic how the transmission on my old Honda was slipping and that I was having a hard time getting out of second gear. I told him I didn't have any money for a better car right now and I wondered if he could help me fix my
aging wreck.

I was surprised when he didn't ask any questions but just motioned me for him to follow me.We went to the back of the lot and he stopped at an old rusted 12-year-old Buick station wagon.

"Its not pretty," he said, " and it is too far gone to give to a single mother to transport her kids. But it runs, has reasobaly good tires and the transmission still works. Why don't you drive it home."

God did provide. I ended up driving that Buick for nearly two years until I could afford to buy a better car.

Peter Buchan
Sarasota, Fl.