Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4, NASB)
I loved Byron Nelson. He exhibited genuine character, and oh how he loved Jesus! A sportswriter in Dallas once asked him, “Do you consider yourself to be one of the greatest golfers who ever lived?” His captivating response: “I don’t know much about golf. I don’t know all the answers to life. I know how to make a good stew, and I know how to be a decent man.”
Mr. Nelson played many exhibitions at country clubs. He would always ask, “What is the course record and who holds it?” When the answer was the local pro, Byron Nelson would make sure that he did not break the record. He wanted the local pro to be the hero.
I also recently heard a story about Jordan Bohannon, a University of Iowa basketball star, who intentionally missed a free throw that would have broken a 25-year-old school record. Why? In 1993 Iowa’s Chris Street had made 34 in a row and then lost his life in a car accident. Bohannon made a choice to honor Street’s memory by not breaking his record.
In 2 Samuel 23:14-17, we read of the character of David’s men. David craved a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem. So three of his mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines risking their lives in the process. They then brought this precious gift of water to David. David would not drink the water and poured it out. David said, “Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives” (2 Samuel 23:17, NASB)?
Forgiven people forgive people. Found people find people. Reconciled people reconcile people.Nice stories, but what about the rest us who don’t play golf like Byron Nelson or shoot free throws like Jordan Bohannon, or we don’t have opportunity as one of David’s men? I believe we can still do good deeds for all the right reasons in God’s honor. We can be men and women of good character. The way we give glory and honor to God goes beyond just the doing of the good deed; it becomes who we are and who God created us to be.
I still believe that one of the most challenging parts of life involves interpersonal relationships with family and others. You have heard the expression, “Hurt people hurt people.” Well, reverse that. Forgiven people forgive people. Found people find people. Reconciled people reconcile people.
We can always point to why we think we are right. But does our rightness matter if relationships are broken and lives shattered? Yes, we are to confront in hopes of change, but the only one you can change is yourself. If you reach out to try to bring peace and the other party rejects your forgiveness, I think Jesus would say, “Walk away and wait for a better opportunity.”
There is more at stake than course records, or free throw records, or a cup of cool water. Jesus is building attractiveness in us for his good.
—
Randy Wolff
June 3, 2019
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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