God Will Give You a Ferrari

Today, I gave a thrilling lesson on the law of consecration. I have to give credit to Tori, who team-taught with me. (I was excited to find we are both tabletop-sitting teachers, and we both usually go shoeless, though Tori chose to leave on her super cute shoes today.)

My favorite part of the lesson was a thought provoking point from my favorite front row class member, Richard. He read this quote:

"Until we 'feel in total harmony' with the principle that everything we have belongs to the Lord, 'it will be difficult, if not impossible, for us to accept the law of consecration. As we prepare to live this law, we will look farward with great anticipation to the day when the call will come. If, on the other hand, we hope it can be delayed so we can have the pleasure of accumulating material things, we are on the wrong path.'" (Bishop Victor L. Brown, quoted in the Sunday School manual)

When Tori asked Richard what he learned from that quote, he said, "That I'm on the wrong path." There were a few laughs, and then Richard told us that he has a dream to own a Ferrari one day. He said he would never go into debt to get it, but it is something he intends to work hard for.

Material possessions, even luxuries like a fancy car, are not bad in and of themselves, so I told Richard that I bet it would be all right with God for him to buy a Ferrari someday if he also pays his tithing and is otherwise generous and charitable. Then I asked him if he bought his Ferrari and the church starting living the law of consecration, would he give up his dream car after working hard to earn it? He said, ultimately, he would give it up, but he hopes he never has to.

I have been thinking about this all afternoon, and I've decided that, if Richard gave his Ferrari to the church under the law of consecration, God would probably let him have it back. The steward over the apportioning of property will not work randomly--he will be under the direction of the Lord, and I doubt that our loving Heavenly Father would deny one of his children something he really wanted and for which he had worked hard. Of course, God might not give Richard back his Ferrari for one of His important and unknown purposes, but God blesses us for our faith and humble sacrifices and wants to give us the righteous desires of our hearts, so if Richard acts with the right attitude, God will reward him, and I see no reason why he shouldn't get his dream car. Just my opinion.