As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17, NIV)
I had the privilege to spend some time recently with the chaplain of the PGA Tour Champions, Larry Moody. Larry is the founder of Search Ministries and started as chaplain of the PGA Tour more than 30 years ago.
I have known Larry personally for the past three years, and besides meeting from time to time in person, we have talked on the phone and texted each other. One thing we had never done was play golf together. In fact, we had never spent more than an hour together at one time. Last week, though, we played golf and spent half the day together. I was glad for this opportunity to host Larry, because Links Players has been blessed by his ministry.
It was a great time of golf, but more than that it provided a “changing the conversation” moment. Right in the middle of the round, Larry proceeded to ask me what the alligator in my life is right now. I never had been asked a question like that before. He was asking me about the biggest problem or challenge I’m facing—but he put teeth to it! So driving down the fairway, I had to think about it before I could answer. I finally did. Then a few holes went by, and I asked him what the alligator in his life is right now. He opened up and shared with me his alligator. During the rest of the round, we were there to encourage each other in life and golf and, of course, to try and make as many good shots as possible during the round. It was a great day of golf and fellowship.
Today’s line in Proverbs came to mind both because of my time with Larry and because he taught on this recently at the Tour Fellowship.
“Iron sharpens iron.” I picture how, when you need to sharpen a dull knife, you rub it together with honing steel—which is another piece of iron—to sharpen it. The analogy is clear. If we spend purposeful time with another person, we will sharpen each other. The notes on this passage in the Life Application Bible add meaning:
Mental sharpness… requires two partners who can challenge one another to stimulate thought—people who focus on the idea without their egos in the discussion: people who know how to attack the thought and not the thinker. Two friends who bring their ideas together can help each other become sharper.
I am blessed to have a friend like Larry Moody. He speaks to me honestly. Our discussing and bringing ideas together makes me sharper.
I hope you have this kind of friend. If you don’t, be on the lookout for one! This is one of the things we try to encourage in our Links Fellowships. Get in a Links Fellowship or Bible study at your church, if you are not in one now. Find a helpful friend there. God does not want you to live your spiritual life alone.
—
Dereck Wong
March 14, 2018
Copyright 2018 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.