One More Thing with Pastor Tim Burchill 11.10.2025

The Cars Are Looking for A King

          I don’t have a thing to add to Pastor Jessica’s excellent sermon this last Sunday.  The fable/parable she shared has been one of my favorites for all the lessons she pulled from it in her message.  I was playing around with my friend Chat GPT and after several abortive attempts, we came up with the following modernized version of Judges 9:7-15. 

Here goes:

One day, all the vehicles in the garage decided they needed a king.
“Someone strong! Someone fast! Someone dependable!” they said—mostly because the lawn mower had run over the garden hose again.

First they went to the sports car, all shiny and sleek.
“Come and be our king!” they said.

But the sports car replied,
“Why would I give up the open road, the admiration of everyone at stoplights, and the thrill of speed just to manage you lot? Find someone else.”

Next, they went to the pickup truck, sturdy and reliable.
“Surely you should lead us!”

The pickup said,
“I’m honored, but I’m too busy hauling important things. Besides, ruling over a bunch of vehicles sounds like more work than I want.”

Then they approached the electric car, quiet, efficient, and futuristic.
“Be our king!”

The electric car replied,
“Sorry. I’d rather keep running clean and smooth than deal with all your engine noises and exhaust fumes. Leadership isn’t my style.”

Finally, they turned to the old jalopy, rusted, squeaky,

and always in need of a tune-up.
“Will you be our king?”

The jalopy creaked, coughed, and sputtered,
“Oh, I’ll rule you, yes… but beware: my brake pads are worn bare and my gas tank leaks but will I ever take you for a ride!”

And the vehicles looked at each other and muttered,
“Maybe we should’ve asked the sports car again…”

------------

          When the gifted refuse the call of God on their lives, then leadership falls upon those with ulterior motives.  We used to have a saying among pastors, “The best Bishops and Superintendents are the ones who have no interest in doing the job.”  We said it because those with ambition for higher service in the church are sometimes only interested in higher prestige and privilege, not higher service.  Some of the best superintendents I’ve had the privilege to work with were women and men who would never have put themselves forward for the job.  I wish those who have the gifts God needs to do God’s work would be wise enough to say, “Here I am, send me,” rather than being dragged into service.  That includes many of us as well—since we are all gifted and called in the eyes of God!