In the 70's George did this on two separate occasions to two different brothers in Fullerton, when they drove up in cars he didn't approve of because they were too expensive. And he told the workers about it as an example of what is not acceptable and how to deal with it. The lesson that came home to me was those cars represented financial resources that should have been given to the Lord's treasury instead. In both cases, the brothers got rid of the nice cars and replaced them with old ones.
I remember being told that our cars had to be practical. Preferably an inexpensive large four door suitable for taking saints to meetings and outreach. I remember thinking it strange of how proud George was of his Thunderbird. When he was with small groups of brothers, he just beamed with pride as he talked about how fast his car was when he stepped on the gas. I could never figure out how this was a practical car unless it was so that George wouldn't waste his valuable time getting to meetings, because he had a fast car that wasn't slowed down with passengers.
I assumed that George was just trying to impress the brothers with his car stories. Of course George would always mention how he didn't choose or buy the car, but that the Lord provided it for him. (i.e. those who gave the car to George were trying to earn George's favor). Actually, I can remember cases of DG and TG having the same automobile idolization problem that their father had. Like father, like son.
