Character truly counts

Proverbs 11:3  (ESV)

The integrity of the upright guides them,

    but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

Bobby Jones was one of the greatest golfers to ever compete, uniquely known for winning the "Grand Slam" of golf winning all four major tournaments in the U.S. and Britain in a single year. In 1925, early in his career, having reached the final playoff in the U.S. Open, at a certain point in the match, Jones was setting up to strike his ball which was in the rough just off the fairway. His iron accidentally touched the ball. He immediately became angry with himself, turned to the marshals, and called a penalty on himself.

But the marshals had not seen the ball move, so they left the decision to Jones, whether to invoke the penalty -- a two-stroke penalty. Bobby called the penalty on himself, not knowing that he would lose the tournament by a single stroke.

When praised for his honesty, he replied, "You may as well praise a man for not robbing a bank!" Jones may have lost the tournament, but his character was legendary and today the United States Golf Association's award for sportsmanship is known as the "Bobby Jones Award."

It's been said, "Character is what you do when nobody is watching. Character is how you treat people who can do absolutely nothing for you. Character is how you react when the pressure is on. Character is deciding beforehand that you are going to do the right thing."

Every day we're faced with decisions -- many of which are made when no one is watching, at least no one we can see. But let's purpose in our hearts to do the right thing -- because character truly counts. We may not see the dividends immediately -- but be assured that God is keeping track of our decisions, and He will make good on every one!

Dear Lord, we pray that we would make decisions that are right and blessing even when nobody is looking. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Are you listening?

Matthew 21:16 (ESV)

And they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”

I heard this story about a professional golfer playing in Los Angeles. The only caddy available was young and inexperienced. So, before they teed off, the golfer told him, "Don't say a word to me. And if I ask you something, just answer yes or no -- nothing else"

During one round, the golfer found his ball next to a tree, where he had to hit under a branch, over a lake and onto the green. He got down on his knees and looked through the trees and sized up the shot.

"What do you think?" he asked the young caddy, not really wanting his opinion. "Five-iron?"

"No," he replied. "What do you mean, not a five-iron?!" the pro-golfer snorted. "Watch this shot. "Again, the caddy insisted. "No-o-o."

But the ball was hit beautifully, and stopped a shocking two feet from the hole. The pro turned to his caddy, handed him the five-iron and said, "Now then young lad, what do you think about that?

"But…" the caddy said, "That wasn't your ball."

If it's one thing we've learned, it's that we need to listen to others. We have so much to learn from one another -- especially the young! We may have some great ideas but the Lord may well more for us and He wants us to keep an open ear!

Dear Lord, help us to have our ears open to listen to those around us. Help us to not try and do everything on our own.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Give With Love

Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Robert De Vincenzo, the great Argentine golfer, once won a tournament and, after receiving the check and smiling for the cameras, he went to the clubhouse and prepared to leave. Sometime later, he walked alone to his car in the parking lot and was approached by a young woman. She congratulated him on his victory and then told him that her child was seriously ill and near death. She did not know how she could pay the doctor's bills and hospital expenses.

De Vincenzo was touched by her story, and he took out a pen and endorsed his winning check for payment to the woman. "Make some good days for the baby," he said as he pressed the check into her hand.

The next week he was having lunch in a country club when a Professional Golf Association official came to his table. "Some of the boys in the parking lot last week told me you met a young woman there after you won that tournament." De Vincenzo nodded.

"Well," said the official, "I have news for you. She's a phony. She has no sick baby. She's not even married. She fleeced you, my friend."

"You mean there is no baby who is dying?" said De Vincenzo.

"That's right," said the official.

"That's the best news I've heard all week," De Vincenzo said.

Wow! What a beautiful spirit! I would have struggled with feelings of resentment. I would have said, "See if I try to help anyone else again!"

De Vincenzo's attitude is reminiscent of the spirit that God has shown toward us. Despite mankind taking God's goodness for granted, despite our repeated failures, God was willing to give not just a token amount, but the ultimate sacrifice of His Son. He did so, not reluctantly or with resentment, but willingly and gladly, knowing that while most would only show disdain for his gift, some would respond in obedience motivated by faith and love.

Dear Lord, we pray that our hearts would be willing hearts. Help us to give wholeheartedly with love just as You have given for each of us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Are You a Clubhouse Christian?

Luke 10:38-42 (New International Version)

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Did you know there are people out there who call themselves golf historians? It's amazing. They can talk circles around you or me when it comes to golf. If you bump into a golf historian or find yourself golfing with one for a round, you may discover fascinating things about this game. You may also feel like smacking the historian with a putter.

There was a man who knew absolutely everything there was to know about golf. He liked to amaze and impress those around him with obscure matters of trivia.

"Did you know that Sandra Day O'Connor is the only U.S. Supreme Court justice to have scored a hole-in-one?" He would ask.

He knew precisely where to stand when someone else was putting out or teeing off.

He knew to bring a towel to the green to clean his properly marked ball.

The trouble was he couldn't golf worth a hill of beans. His putts were short and crooked. So were his drives. Except when he missed the ball altogether.

Though his etiquette did not allow him to get upset with himself, he really should have. Most people that golfed like that would have the common decency to throw my clubs in the creek and quit the game. But not him. Sure, he would frown after sinking that all important sixth putt, he would shake his head after shanking his fourth approach shot, but there was little emotion. He would rather talk about those who play the game well than do so himself.

He's the guy who looks great in the clubhouse. He's the armchair golfer. Oh, he does well at computer golf. Hook him up to a mouse and he can hold his own. Hand him a joystick and he can beat you hands-down. But take him onto the golf course where it matters and he's lost. Hand him a club and stand back.

Maybe you know a person that knows much about God. If they'd have held a tournament for Bible trivia games he would have won the grand slam. He could quote Scripture. Recite all four stanzas of a hundred hymns. But there was one small problem. He didn't know the One he was singing about. Though he was privileged to grow up in a home where his parents taught and lived the Bible, it hadn't taken hold of him.

He used to have "sword drills" in Sunday School. Where he held a Bible over his heads like the Sword of Damocles. When the teacher yelled out a Bible verse, he would frantically flip the pages until some winner found it. Guess who usually won? That's right. He was proud of how many verses he could find about the sin of pride. He looked down on those who couldn't locate verses about the Pharisees.

One day he encountered a story in the Bible that confused him. It was of Mary and Martha, two friends of the Master. One day she invited Jesus and His disciples into her home for a meal. Imagine feeding 13 grown men. But to make matters worse, Martha's sister, Mary, didn't even help out with the roast. As Martha sliced potatoes, Mary sat at Jesus' feet, listening and learning. Finally, Martha had had enough.

"Lord," she complained, "doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me."

It was then that it hit him like someone yelling "Fore!" Martha was consumed by the temporary, while Mary was hungry and thirsty for the eternal. Like me, Martha was missing the essential ingredient to a living and vibrant faith: the desire to sit at Jesus' feet.

Many of us have probably spent years living exactly like the golf historian, talking about the Master without really knowing Him. Jesus' words to the Pharisees were directed to me: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away" (Matthew 15:8).

I want to know Christ, to walk in His presence, to learn from him. In knowing the Master I have come to the stunning realization that He knows us and loves us too. Let’s make it each of our goal today to really know the Master.

Dear Lord we thank You that we can have a personal relationship with You. Help us take the time to sit at your feet today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.