Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23, NIV)
I have had the pleasure of playing some nice golf courses, ones you’ve probably heard of: Pine Valley, Shinnecock, San Francisco Golf Club, and Los Angeles Country Club, to mention a few.
I have also had the opportunity to play some not-so-nice courses, ones you’ve most likely not heard of. I won’t name names, but when people use goats to describe these tracks, they don’t mean “greatest of all time.”
Professionals play for big purses week in and week out, so they are accustomed to a steady slate of well-manicured tracks. I am playing to win souls, so the courses I find myself on run the ratings gamut from double eagle to X.
In today’s verse, Paul talked about becoming all things to all people by all means possible just to reach some. I have adopted the same mindset, but that wasn’t always the case.
Whether the clubhouse is a Victorian masterpiece or a vending machine, the setting isn’t important, but the people are.
Before my role with Links Players, invitations to play golf were automatically met with two qualifying questions in my head: Where are we playing? And who is playing? I wanted to protect myself from inadequate course conditions or hours with energy vampires, so there may have been a time or three I found an excuse to bow out.
(Thank God for grace, because that was painful to admit.)
My wife Susan called me out on my misguided attitude and politely referred me to the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus instructed us not to hide our light but let it shine for others to see (Matthew 5:14-16). It’s hard to do that when you pick and choose your audience.
My mindset now is that of Jim Carrey’s character in the movie Yes Man. Unless I have a prescheduled conflict, I say yes to every offer. No qualifiers. Why? The golf course is our mission field, and every round is an opportunity.
To the country club set I become like a country clubber. To the public course crowd, I become like one on the muni circuit. Whether the clubhouse is a Victorian masterpiece or a vending machine, the setting isn’t important, but the people are.
All people.
To whom we should be all things.
—
Drew Hamilton
August 18, 2021
Copyright 2021 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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