God and golf

by Dan Steward, Associate Pastor

Labelle Haven Baptist Church Olive Branch, MS

 

     I was very blessed to grow up in the small South Mississippi town of Purvis. One reason I was blessed to be raised in Purvis was the small country club that was there in my youth, Beaver Lake. In the mid 60’s a group of local business owners pooled their money to start a country club that would benefit our little town. It was for the community. We had an 18 hole course, an incredible lake, pro-shop, ball room, tennis courts, basketball courts, and a swimming pool. My dad retired out of the army and worked at Beaver Lake following his military career. I was born and raised on this golf course. 
     Dad wanted his two sons to play golf and play it the right way. He spent time teaching us what little he knew about golf. On the weekend Dad would cut the greens on Saturday and Sunday and then come get one of his boys to play 9 holes before the crowd filled up the course. He never took us both at the same time so he could spend time teaching just one. My dad died from an accident on the golf course when I was ten years old but I remember those weekend learning sessions with Dad vividly. 
     As a pastor I look back on some of the things my dad taught me about golf and see some of those lessons translate to our walk with Christ. In a fun way let me share with you some lessons about God and golf. 

 

Keep your eye on the ball. (Vs. 37)
     The first lesson my dad taught me was to keep your eye on the ball. Every bad shot I ever hit in his mind was because I had head movement. 
     The most important lesson you can learn as a follower of Christ is to keep your eyes on God. In verse 37 Jesus teaches us to love God with all our heart, soul and with our minds. 
 

Consider others. (Vs. 39) 
     Dad told me and my brother that until we could learn etiquette we could not play golf on the course. He taught us where to stand when others were hitting, about putting lines and through lines on the green, about talking while others were hitting, etc… 
     Jesus teaches we are to love others as you love yourself in verse 39. 
     As believers we are to consider others and we are to be servants. 
 

Your hands must work as a team. 
     My dad was an interlocker. He believed that overlappers couldn’t possibly go to heaven. From my earliest days Dad taught your hands could not work independently but had to work as a team when playing golf. 
     Ephesians 4:11 says God has called some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors/teachers. The purpose for these positions is to help other believers mature in Christ. Christians must work as a team to accomplish God’s purposes. 
 

Golf is supposed to be fun. 
     Dad always had fun on the golf course. He instilled in us if we are playing for recreation it should be fun. If it is not fun then we should quit. 
     I Peter 1:8 describes the unspeakable joy we as believers have in Christ. The Christian life is intended to be joyful. If you have lost your joy I encourage you to search your heart as to why this has happened.n