But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. (Matthew 7:26-27 NIV)
We have a Friday afternoon game at my club, and it has a raking problem. We’re not talking about players forgetting to clean their mess while exiting bunkers; it’s the consistent and continued expansion of the ‘gimme’ zone. Rarely has the rattle of the ball at the bottom of the cup been heard, and it’s gotten so bad that I now see putts knocked back that are still in motion!
I also find it humorous that golfers spend more time verbally defending their ability to make a three-footer than practicing the skill that would allow them to do so. Neglecting knee-knockers only sets one up for failure.
In golf, your short-range putting can have a material impact on your scorecard. More importantly, in faith, your knowledge of scripture can have a material impact on someone’s eternal destiny. Do you realize that knowing Ephesians 2:8-9 by heart could affect where someone spends eternity? –“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast.”
It pains me to watch those who normally scrape putts miss the cup when the pressure is on. Deep down, I know they could make more shorties if they would put themselves in that position more often.
I feel the same way about conversations concerning the issues of life. Wouldn’t it be great if you never had to say “I didn’t know what to say” again? Spend sufficient time in the Bible, and you can offer the words of God without having to fumble for your own.
Say you find yourself at lunch and a friend confesses their worry about finances or health. Do you respond with a failed smile and a lyric from Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy”? Or are you able to share a meaningful passage about anxiety like Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
While I’m having fun with that example, I am serious about my encouragement to store scripture in your heart. Not sure where to start? Camp out in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) for a spell. In it, Jesus teaches twenty topics, including anger, worry, and prayer, and concludes with a warning in today’s verse, emphasizing the importance of practice.
Spend time with your putter, and you’ll be more confident over three-footers when you need them. Spend time in the Word, and you’ll be more comfortable sharing scripture with someone when they need it.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Word. Help us to hear it and put it into practice so we can be like wise men and women who build their houses on the rock.