Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Have you ever experienced a “lightbulb” moment when something finally makes sense that didn’t make sense before? It’s one of those moments where you slap your head and say, “Da, now I get it.” Have you ever experienced lightbulb moments when God revealed Himself to you?
Former pro-golfer Betsy King began her career in 1977. She won six major championships and 34 LPGA Tour victories and played for the United States in the Solheim Cup five times. Betsy had a “lightbulb” moment at a gathering of golfers right before the 1980 season. It was then that she committed her life to Christ.
Fast forward to 1997 and the Chevron Championship at Mission Hills in California. It would be the last of her six major championship wins. The final round fell on Easter Sunday. Tournament organizers, along with the fellowship leaders on the LPGA Tour, put together a sunrise service next to the 18th green.
Betsy spoke that morning and said, “As golfers, we tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves to perform. But I know that God loves me the same whether I shoot 68 or 80. That knowledge puts everything else into perspective. I pray that whatever happens, I represent Christ in a godly fashion in everything that I do.”
Amy Alcott, who won five major championships and 29 LPGA Tour events herself, gave the speech introducing Betsy at her induction ceremony to the World Golf Hall of Fame. Amy said, “Whenever I’m around Betsy, I feel better about myself.” Ever since I heard that line, I’ve been inspired to be known as a CEO, a Chief Encouragement Officer.
Betsy went on a trip to Rwanda and was “kindled with compassion” from what she experienced. Fast forward to 2022. Each year, Rolex and the sponsors at Evian present an award entitled “The Prize for a Better Tomorrow.” The recipient was Betsy King, who has spent almost two decades working to bring clean drinking water to impoverished people in Africa. King’s charity, Golf Fore Africa, builds freshwater wells in villages and provides schools and hospitals with mechanized water systems (what most Westerners call indoor plumbing).
Serving others is one of many ways to be of encouragement. One of the core values of LINKS is in our acronym:
Love God and others
Integrate Christ’s reign and integrity into all of life
Network friends together in Christ
KINDLE COMPASSION FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY
Share Christ through the game of golf
Perhaps you can find a way to serve some of the under-resourced people in your community this Christmas season. “God so loved the world that He gave…” You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. It will make you more like God.
Prayer: Father, what a giving, gracious God you are. Help us to be like You. During this Christmas season, may we be generous out of the overflow of the love we have received from you. Amen.