It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. (Proverbs 25:2, ESV)
By all accounts, the vast majority of golf fans only witness the action that unfolds between Thursdays and Sundays inside the ropes. We primarily observe the “glitz and glamor.” As these players move from green to tee, the crowds reach out, hoping to touch their heroes. In America, we “idolize” these gladiators of golf.
We rarely witness what these players are doing outside the ropes: packing their suitcases, ironing their clothes, holding crying newborns, waiting in airport lines, hopping on shuttle rides, calling for room service, or nursing their wounds after a tough round.
Our tendency is to elevate these players in our minds to a pantheon of golfing gods, revering them as if they could walk on water. We easily forget that outside of their time spent playing, these guys, as my coach used to say, “put their pants on just like us.”
To be fair, some players manage this kind of notoriety better than others. They come across as grounded, humble, and transparent. Unfortunately, others exploit the fame and fortune for all it’s worth.
We are all familiar with the saying, “What you see is what you get.” In other words, what we observe in public is also what we find in private. For Larry, faith is not something to flaunt, but it isn’t hidden away in a private corner either. We have often been told that faith is a personal matter, and while it is indeed personal, it is not private.
Faith in Christ should be expressed through words and deeds as we navigate the warp and woof of our public lives. Obviously, the way faith is practiced and communicated will largely depend on an individual’s personality and gifts.
When we look behind the curtain of a man’s life, we begin to uncover all the complexities—both strengths and weaknesses—of following Christ. As a friend once told me, “I am a study in contradictions.” Anyone who knows, loves, and walks with Jesus understands what my friend meant.
This raises the question: Where did Larry and his fellow Tour players find the strength to cope with missed shots, missed greens, missed cuts, and profound personal and professional disappointments? As Larry recalled, “Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we respond.”
Three answers stood out when considering that question: 1) Know the Word, 2) Worship together, and 3) Encourage one another in faith.
“The Word is easy to understand, but you must dig it out,” Larry said. As Proverbs states, “It’s the glory of God to conceal a matter; it’s the glory of kings to search it out.” The truths of Scripture are like gold. If you want to find them, you must “dig.”
After forty-seven years in ministry, if asked, “What is the chief failure of the church?” I would say that while there are exceptions, pastors have largely failed to inspire and teach people how to mine for gold. Merely telling people to read Scripture is a far cry from teaching them how to “dig for themselves.”
Jesus says, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” These words are found in Scripture. If the people of God are to avoid spiritual malnourishment, they must nourish their souls in the Word of God.
For tour players, both past and present, personal Bible study, Scripture memorization, attending chapel (i.e., listening to the preached Word), and mutually encouraging one other with the Word are critically important for strengthening their walk with Christ Jesus!
What is true for them is obviously true for us!
Prayer: Father! Create in us a new and lasting hunger to meet you in the Scriptures!