The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old. (Proverbs 20:29, NIV)
There is likely a special place in your heart for the person who brought you to the game. Golf is very much a passed-on sport, being given from parents to children and friends to friends. Some would say this constitutes a sharing of one’s burden, but we’ll let them wallow in their own cynicism. Instead, we can choose to be sentimental and appreciative that we play golf because someone wanted us to enjoy it, too.
When fellowship envelops us in full, it teaches us and challenges us and supports us.My dad brought me to the game, as he was an avid player himself, but there were others who convinced me as well of golf’s pleasures: professionals, coaches, fellow juniors, dads of friends, and even random members at our club. I have fond memories of all of these people, but it’s not just mushy feelings or even the pleasure of good stories; it’s a recognition that the game is best when shared.
True Christian fellowship is the same. It goes beyond the pot lucks at the church hall or the children’s programs at holidays. Those things have a pleasantness to them, sure. But when fellowship envelops us in full, it teaches us and challenges us and supports us.
For this to happen, no matter the setting, a measure of voice must be given to all those in the room, young and old, for at the same time Scripture says, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31), it also says, “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise” (Psalm 8:2). There is righteous wisdom to be gained by the young when they listen well to the old and a song to be joined by the old when they listen well to the young.
Two errors can be made when we avoid such round-the-room fullness of God-honoring voice. One comes from pride, the other from comfort. Both lead to the same place: exclusion of those God would otherwise have us hear.
So we must be intentional in our pursuit of broad fellowship, because our natural inclinations spur us to hang out with those who are “as bright as we are” or those who “let me be me.” The church is not like this. Christ opened the doors to all, cutting across ages, races, nationalities, interests, income, and politics. This doesn’t mean we are to tolerate one another; it means we are to honor one another as brothers and sisters committed together to hearing God’s voice through us all.
—
Jeff Hopper
January 20, 2017
Copyright 2017 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
Other devotions in this series:
A Life Lived in Fellowship, Part 1
A Life Lived in Fellowship, Part 2
A Life Lived in Fellowship, Part 4
A Life Lived in Fellowship, Part 5
A Life Lived in Fellowship, Part 6
A Life Lived in Fellowship, Part 7