This is THE SEBRING. We bought it in 2005. It’s eleven year’s old. Every morning, I drive my daughters to school. I usually drive our other car, but when it’s in the shop I drive THE SEBRING. As soon as my oldest daughter hears that we’re taking the SEBRING, a look of horror overtakes her face. She hates this car. She thinks it’s old. She thinks it’s ugly. She thinks it’s worthless. She doesn’t like to ride in it.
Earlier this year, someone stole the SEBRING and my daughter was happy. When the policeman called, and told us they found our car without a scratch on it, I was elated. But my daughter was devastated. She thought the SEBRING was gone. She thought we were getting a new car.
My daughter doesn’t understand – THE SEBRING is an ASSET and not a liability
The truth is…it’s very easy to confuse the two
To me, THE SEBRING represents freedom. It evokes a sense of accomplishment in me when I drive it. It’s paid off. I have the title in hand and I’m not indebted to anyone for it. There are no payments. No bills in the mail. And no possibility of someone coming to repossess it. Although it’s a little rusted on the bottom and makes a funny noise when I turn it on, it’s completely mine
This is one of those life lessons I want my daughter to understand
So, the other day on our way to school, I had a conversation with her about why I’m not embarrassed to drive THE SEBRING. I explained to her that life is about building ASSETS and not accumulating liabilities. I told her that an older car (that is paid off) is more valuable than a new car with five to seven years of payments. I shared with her the importance of living a life without debt. She listened attentively. And then she asked me to drop her off down the street from her school so no one would see her getting out of THE SEBRING.
All I could do was laugh
She doesn’t understand
She’s only eleven
She doesn’t realize that the accumulation of liabilities will never bring happiness. Her self-worth and value can’t be found in an abundance of possessions. It can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
We will get another car one day
But for right now…I’ll drive THE SEBRING
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15 New International Version)