“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21, NASB)
Golf is a humbling game, and we put too much pressure on ourselves when we try to play it well in an attempt to impress others. This is especially true when others are closely watching, like our partners, who are hoping for a brilliant shot to help the team win a trophy or credit in the pro shop.
I recently played in a golf tournament at our club with an unusual format. Three players would play a scramble and produce a gross score. This score would be combined with the other lone player playing his own ball producing a gross score. The team score would be the total of the scramble score and the lone player score. You see where this is going?
When I understand what is really important, I am humbled and grateful that we don’t have to compete and try to impress Jesus.I observed how these men successful in the world would be reduced to ashes when it was their hole to produce the lone score. That score could be anything. Count ’em all! I saw how much pressure they put on themselves to perform at a game they played presumably just to enjoy. I imagined the guilt my partner suffered as he shanked his tee shot out of bounds. How silly to get so upset.
Then it was my turn on number thirteen. The joke was on me.
My tee shot hit a tree to keep from going in the hazard. I then proceeded to hit a simple 7-iron approach fat and 10 yards short of the green. How could this happen? I then proceeded to hit the pitch fat also, and the ball struggled to get on the front of the green. I really felt the pressure as the eyes of these men watched this meltdown. Three putts later, it was all over. Count ’em: double bogey.
These men had just witnessed their A-player succumb to pressure and were not impressed. They thought, Didn’t this man play on the PGA Tour? (I made doubles there also.)
I walked to the next tee in shame because I was trying to impress these men. I then remembered that this is only a game. A few years from now, all will forget the double bogey on thirteen, but we can rejoice in eternity for a Savior who came for us and died for us. Isn’t that what is really important?
There are mountains in Scripture that are vitally important. Other scriptural truths may be foothills but important just the same. I do well to remember the mountains:
1) God sent his Son to die for us and give us new life.
2) He was resurrected and has promised to prepare a place for us in resurrected and glorified bodies.
3) We are saved by grace and not by works. Grace is a gift that we must accept.
When I understand what is really important, I am humbled and grateful that we don’t have to compete and try to impress Jesus. He already knows us and loves us anyway. That should comfort us.
In the end, it is not whom we impress, but who impresses us. I am still in awe and continue to be impressed by our Savior who died so that we may live the abundant life. This Savior is now my treasure, regardless of what I made on number thirteen. I can’t impress him, but I can love him more by making him my priority—my priority not only in church but also on the golf course. I hope my playing partners understand.
—
Randy Wolff
August 1, 2018
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.