Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (I Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)
If you follow golf, you know the name Freddie Couples. The winner of the 1992 Masters, member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, and winner of two Senior Majors, Freddie is a player who has accomplished much.
If you follow golf closely, you might know the name Alison Lee. She turned pro in 2015 and promptly joined the U.S. Solheim Cup team. The UCLA star looked like she’d take the LPGA by storm.
Now in her 9th year on Tour, Alison has won twice in Europe, though not yet in America. I was hoping that would change in mid-November, and it almost did. She had three second-place finishes in a row!
In a press conference in the middle of that third event, she shared one of the big reasons her game had turned around: Fred Couples.
They had played golf together a couple of months earlier, and she figured that was it. But Freddie got her number and started texting her daily, telling her how good she was at golf.
The story was funny in part (“Oh look, another text from Freddie”), but she began to tear up a little as she recounted more. “He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
Can you do that for someone?
One person in the Bible who made a habit out of encouraging others was named Joseph, but you and I know him by Barnabas. That was his nickname, and it means “son of encouragement.”
It would be very hard to be a modern-day Paul. Likewise, it would be a challenge to stand up boldly like Peter did or write with the beauty of John.
But all of us can be just like Barnabas and encourage others everywhere we go. Do that in golf and life as you can, but always encourage others in their walk with the Lord.
Victory for eternity, after all, is far better than a hundred majors.
Prayer: Father, may we encourage one another, just as Barnabas did, and build one another up in Christ. Thank you for encouraging me! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen