Jesus Take the Wheel

Introduction

I’m going to start today with a shocking statement. REady?!? Humanity thinks it is in control...of everything.

Okay maybe not so shocking. But make it personal...you and I like to think we control...or are in control...of our lives.

When Carrie Underwood came out with her hit song… “Jesus take the Wheel”...it was all about “letting go”...of out of control circumstances...and trusting Jesus to guide her through the difficulty.

In the song she asks Jesus to “saver her from the road she’s on” by taking the wheel.

That’s the title of today’s message because that is exactly what the passage from Proverbs teaches us.

Proverbs 14:12 NLT

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

You see...our natural sinful instinct is to trust ourselves...trust human wisdom above all else.

But scriptures tell us that reasoning from that persepctive is flawed...it leads away from God. IT leads to ruin.

We must die to our own understanding...daily...and we must begin to check our understanding against what Scripture tells us is God’s understanding.

We need to learn a new skill...with a changed heart by the power of the HOly Spirit...we need to reorient our trust mechanism...away from self...and toward trusting God...

New Skill

That’s not easy. Any time you and I learn a new sill...it takes some time....it takes effort.

Like when we first learn to ride a bike without training wheels...what happens? We fall...get back up...fall again...get back up...but eventually we are able to learn that skill and we have at our disposal the rest of our lives.

Proverbs 3:5 ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

"Do not lean"

Hebrew: שָׁעַן (sha'an)

Meaning: support oneself rest one's weight upon

The image is a walking staff. The proverb asks: "What are you leaning on?"

Everyone leans on something.

experience

intelligence

money politics career

retirement relationships

The command is not: "Stop thinking." The command is: "Stop treating yourself as your ultimate authority."

What are you leaning on today...to make sense of your life?

Ask yourself:

What keeps me awake at night?

What do I trust most for security?

What would devastate me if it disappeared? (Often that reveals where our trust truly lies.)

When we are dying to live for God...we have to die to thinking we are in charge; that we are in control; that our understanding is the ultimate understanding.

The Christian life is a yielding to that very thing. We give up control...and ask Jesus to take the wheel.

Acknowledge, Fear, and Refresh

Proverbs 3:6–8 ESV

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Acknoledge him in all your ways...that means in your way of life...your comings and goings...your decisions.

Acknowledgment is covenant language. The word in Hebrew is Yada...it means to know.

It means:

recognize

submit to

live in relationship with

A more literal translation might be: "In all your ways know Him." This is relational trust. Not merely asking God to bless our plans. Rather: Seeking God's will before making plans...or better yet...God what plans do you have for me?

Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

The fear of the lord is the beginning of trust. It means:

reverence

awe

worshipful submission

Throughout Proverbs, the major thrust is: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." Fear and trust are not opposites. Fear of the Lord creates trust in the Lord. The more we recognize God's greatness, the less we depend upon ourselves.

And when we fear the Lord...and when we turn from evil...when we trust in the Lord...v.8 tells us the result of doing that:

Proverbs 3:8 MSG

Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!

Our bodies...our souls...will be refreshed. Who doesn’t need refreshment in their life? We all do...or what? We burn out. But true refreshment is not just taking a vacation...but resting in the arms of the Lord.

Of no longer leanign on our own understanding...but acknolwedging (knowing) God more and more.

How do we do that?

We deepen our devotional life. We read more scripture. We commit it to memory. We pray more and ask for God’s participation in every moment of our lives.

Biblical Theology

Old Testament

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him.

Isaiah 26:3–4

Trust in the LORD forever.

Jeremiah 17:7–8

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD.

New Testament

Matthew 6:25–34

Jesus calls disciples to trust the Father rather than worry.

Luke 9:23

To follow Christ requires surrendering control.

Philippians 3:7–8

Paul abandons confidence in himself.

James 4:13–15

Do not presume upon tomorrow.

Say: "If the Lord wills."

Connection to "Dying to Live"

The world's message:

Take control.

Protect yourself.

Trust yourself.

Follow your heart.

Proverbs says:

Trust the Lord.

Fear the Lord.

Acknowledge the Lord.

Follow His path.

The Christian life is not self-mastery but Christ-mastery.

Before resurrection comes surrender.

Before life comes death.

Before guidance comes trust.

Closing

Imagine sitting in the passenger seat of a car while someone else drives. Most of us instinctively reach for an imaginary brake pedal because we want control. Espcially with new drivers...or our spouses.

That is how many people live before God.

Hands hovering over the wheel.

Foot on the imaginary brake.

Trying to manage every outcome.

Proverbs 3:5–8 invites us to unclench our hands. To die to the illusion of control. To trust the Driver. Not because we know every turn in the road, but because we know the One who does.

The promise of the passage is not that God will explain every path. The promise is that He will faithfully guide those who trust Him on the path.

So lean not on your own understanding...but fear...and trust in the Lord...and he will make your paths straight.

Thanks be to God...AMEN.