Reputation and Character
#leadership
God does what He promises. He’s always true to His word (Nehemiah 9:8). As we grow in our faith in Christ, we know that more and more. And we too ought to reflect the character of Jesus Christ.
There is no excuse, whether you are a dirt-poor student or laborer or the world’s richest man. Our concupiscence is addressed only through the grace of God. And for that grace, He gave us the sacraments. The sacrament I’m mindful of and thankful for this morning is my marriage. Thank God for His sacred sacrament of marriage. In it, He grows us, blesses us, and refines us like no other. My vocation is husband.
A quick story from memory. John D. Rockefeller loved golf. As he aged, and especially after his wife died, if I remember the bio correctly, he played every day. Now, why would a billionaire, the richest man on earth, seek the humiliation of such a game? It’s a game and a sport you may never master. One that makes a fool of you in front of others. And one that tempts you to fudge the truth.
You see and hear so many golfers say something like, “Well, if I didn’t get a double bogey on four and a snowman on 11, I’d have been under 80 today.” It’s hard to understand the lure of hitting the green, drawing the ball into the fairway with a long roll on a par five, and the magical popping, bopping, and rattling sound of the ball dropping into the hole. So why the lamenting after the round? Why the groans as we duff and hit fat? Why the temptation to take a mulligan, or, as they say at the Congressional Club in DC, a breakfast ball? All sorts of ways to make cheating sound high-brow.
My thought, to myself, and do with it what you will, is just to embrace the process. As Coach Don Cherry always used to say, just accept reality and grow. Don’t dwell on the what-ifs. (He used to say, “If my aunt had testicles, she’d be my uncle” - to drive home the point to the ever-questioning media that you gotta accept reality)
I suspect Rockefeller played golf for all the addictive reasons, but also because, as an old Sunday School-teaching Baptist, he knew God. And through golf, he saw more of God than in any other business or pastime he encountered. That is, for one who knows God, golf is an excellent reminder that God is right and true, the Creator, Sustainer, and Judge. We are His privileged people, those who call Jesus our Lord and King.
Golf shows you the character and mettle of a man in how the golfer deals with himself on the course, but more so in how he treats others in his party and how he reacts to the vicissitudes of the game.
You want to know a man’s character? Play golf.
And I don’t just mean skill. I’ve watched my sons play golf over the last year or so. Some of them are just beginners. But in the beginner golfer, you see their character as much or more than in the expert golfer. The beginner who is self-shamed by the mishit so often shows you his true self. I’m so impressed by the humility, humor, and perseverance of my sons as they’ve learned the game.
But don’t mistake the test for the factory floor.
Yes, golf shows us if a man is a liar, a hothead, level-headed, kind, funny, or generous. But those traits are learned not so much on the course, but way more so in the classrooms of life.
And there is no classroom like a marriage. Gentlemen, friends, say yes to golf. But, and you know this, so it's just a reminder: don’t play if it is a choice between your bride, your kids, and other priorities. Family first, that is a command from God. The family is sacred.
The thing about golf is that while so many false teachers and men of weak character in positions of power can fake their competence or piety in the pulpit or in the courtroom, you simply cannot fake it in golf. And again, not just in the skill of the play, but in how others would say afterward what it was like to play with you. How did you make others feel? Are you fun to play with or horrible? What is your reputation?
Likewise, that will be the case when we meet Jesus, the Judge of every man and woman. When we meet God and are judged, our entire lives will be assessed in but an instant, and yes, with eternal consequence and reward (Revelation 22:12).
Pray. Commit to Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God. Prepare. Plan well. Play well. Every round counts.
And God, who sees the very feathers of every sparrow, loves us beyond measure (Matthew 10). God not only cares but provides everything for us to succeed in what matters: our marriages, our families, and our making of disciples of Jesus Christ.
We are not called to be men of greed and amassing fortunes for our ever-growing shelf of personal achievements. Rockefeller gave away almost all of his wealth before heading to eternity. I suspect much of his mental grounding to do such a thing came from Holy Spirit-inspired conviction.
Jesus Christ would be the best golf partner ever. The cool thing is that we have God in us and with us, so it is not just a weird hypothetical. Not only would Jesus have the ability to miraculously score 18 in 18 (not that he would, as he's not arrogant or forced, so he'd likely enjoy the birdies and occasional eagle as much as we do). But it would be sheer joy to be in His company and experience His generosity on the course (He may give you a gimme at 20 feet!), His grace and His encouragement.
Nehemiah said this of God: “You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten” (Nehemiah 9:10). Indeed, Jesus Christ rules and reigns today. He’s sustaining everything and growing His Kingdom with providential purpose, one soul at a time.
It’s our 33rd wedding anniversary today. I’ve been blessed beyond measure to be Kari-Lynn’s husband.
I wish and pray for you, my friends, to continue to rely on the grace of God (Acts 13:43).
With love from Lynchburg, VA,
David
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