So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6, NIV)
Masters champion Bubba Watson recently tweeted today’s verse, Hebrews 13:6. It accurately portrays how he goes about his life—going against the grain and doing things outside of the norm, because, well, “What can man do to me?”
I remember playing in a Hooters Tour event with Bubba years ago, and he definitely did not succumb to the pressures of conformity even back then. The first hole we played was a dogleg left and most players hit a 3-wood out to the right to be left with 100-120 yard wedge to the green. As you can imagine, Bubba walked up, took out driver, and aimed directly at the green. He also had a Ping putter with a colorful shaft that included multiple pastels in a weave like pattern.
When you play with Bubba, it always makes for a memorable round!
The Search for Significance, by Robert S. McGee, proposes two varying equations for self-worth. The world’s equation (Satan’s lie) is:
self-worth = our own personal performance + other people’s opinions
This concept of self-worth places a tremendous amount of value on the fear of man. In this view, what other people think of you determines how you will act. If you are convinced that people look highly on you because you drive a certain car, wear certain clothes, use certain clubs, live in a certain neighborhood, have a certain job, know certain people, or look a certain way, then you will define your self-worth by conforming to these “requirements” of this world.
On the other hand, McGee proposes that God’s equation is:
self-worth = God’s truth about us
With this perspective, our self-worth is not dependent on how others judge us or even how we perform in our own eyes. On the contrary, in God’s equation, our value comes from Jesus Christ. In this equation we are valued in the eyes of God independent of performance or the approval of others. A person who subscribes to this equation will humbly have a high self-worth because they know that God loves them, they are created in the image of God, they are unique, they live in a world created by God, they have been redeemed from sin, they have a future inheritance as a child of God, they are an ambassador for the King, more than a conqueror, etc… Ultimately this person’s identity is summarized by having infinite worth, they are secure in their relationship with God, and they are called to live a life of significance.
Most of the time, when we sin, we are holding the opinion of man or the opinion of ourselves above the opinion of God. So, like Bubba, it would be beneficial for each of us to hold tightly to God for our identity and self-worth and release the affection we have for the world’s approval. This might help us feel less nervous on the first tee—but tremendously more important, this will help us fulfill God’s calling in the life we live in faith. Does this mean we each have to incorporate a pink club into our golf bag? No. But it does mean that our lives will look different from the average Joe!
—
Korky Kemp
April 26, 2012
Copyright © 2012 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday through Friday and is archived by passage and topic at www.linksplayers.com.