What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? (James 2:14, NASB)
We need to be continually reminded to do the right thing—in this case, to “let our sticks do the talking.”My first Links devotion is dedicated to my dad, Dick Euler. He and my mom introduced me to golf through caddying at Beechwood Golf Course in LaPorte, Indiana. At an early age, I started playing with my friends from the neighborhood and soon was competing in junior tournaments. From that time on, my dad would often encourage me to “let your sticks do the talking.”
We all know how easy it is to talk a good game, but it’s another thing to genuinely shoot a good score. Listen:
“I hit it really well, but I couldn’t putt.”
“If I hadn’t doubled the last two holes, I would have broken 80.”
“I hit it so well on the range but couldn’t find it on the course.”
How many of you have heard this kind of talk from your fellow golfers at the course? After many years of working in the shop, I would tell some members they were going to have to give me caddie fees to listen to their entire round.
In our scripture today, James was making a point to his readers—talk is cheap. He went on to write, “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (James 2:15-16). Of course, many in the Christian community are incredibly generous. But as in most areas of life, we need to be continually reminded to do the right thing—in this case, to “let our sticks do the talking.”
Several other parts of scripture point out the same idea:
Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. (1 John 3:18)
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. (James 3:13)
The book Walk the Talk, by Eric Harvey and Al Lucia, specifically tackles the idea that actions speak louder than words. Without even having read the book, you can probably guess the points being made under such heading as, “The Museum of Corporate Contradictions” or “The Proverbial Open Door Policy.” Businesses, like individuals, need to “let their sticks do the talking.” We can all learn from one of the key statements in Walk the Talk: “We judge ourselves by our intentions, but others judge us mostly by our actions.”
My dad passed away on May 15, 2014. I can thank him for teaching me to respect the game of golf and the people who play the game. I can thank him for understanding that golf is just a game—and if that is the case, why would I talk a better game than I have?
—
Bill Euler
March 27, 2017
Copyright 2017 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.