Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind. (Ecclesiastes 12:13, NIV)
Golf wisdom is as much humor as it is smarts. But I think you’ll enjoy the nugget of truth that shows up in each of these insights:
“Mistakes are part of the game. It’s how well you recover from them, that’s the mark of a great player.” – Alice Cooper
“I know I am getting better at golf because I am hitting fewer spectators.” – Gerald R. Ford
“As you walk down the fairway of life, you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.” – Ben Hogan
“If you watch a game, it’s fun. If you play at it, it’s recreation. If you work at it, it’s golf.” – Bob Hope
“Golf… is the infallible test. The man who can go into a patch of rough alone, with the knowledge that only God is watching
him, and play his ball where it lies, is the man who will serve you faithfully and well.” – P.G. Wodehouse
“Golf is a puzzle without an answer. I’ve played the game for 50 years and I still haven’t the slightest idea of how to
play.” – Gary Player
One of my favorite books in the Bible is the book of Ecclesiastes. Paired with his many contributions to Proverbs, Solomon shows us why he was called one of the wisest men who ever lived (1 Kings 4:29-34).
Solomon did not always make wise choices in his life, but God kept feeding him wisdom right up to the end of his journey.Many philosophers have tried to take on the question, “What is the meaning of life?” Solomon explored this big question throughout Ecclesiastes. Early in his life, Solomon had asked God for wisdom above all other things he may have asked for. God gave it to him. Solomon did not always make wise choices in his life, but God kept feeding him wisdom right up to the end of his journey, when he wrote Ecclesiastes. In the little book, Solomon observed a lot of life’s vanities then concluded: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”
I have to tell you, life will tempt you with many other options besides God’s wisdom. You can chase riches and the goodies that come with them. Or you can go after things to satisfy your flesh: sex, food, drink. But even J.D. Rockefeller, who was worth hundreds of billions of dollars as his life neared its end, said that his wealth did not bring him happiness. I hope he found that contentment in other places, but I know for me, I want to follow the course of Solomon, which was the path toward God. Gain wisdom. God has an endless supply, and you can never get enough of it. Then live wisely, as God would have you live, under his direction and care.
—
Dereck Wong
December 4, 2019
Copyright 2019 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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