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Golf in the Kingdom: Choose the Correct Club
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Choose the Correct Club
8 years ago I was invited to play on a Monday night business league team. One of the members of my
church was the president of a local bank and an avid golfer. He fielded a team each year in this league. As
his new pastor, he asked me to play on his team when he heard that I liked to play golf.
I wasn’t really any good but I really enjoyed it. I was able to play quite a bit the first couple of years and
marginally improved my game. But what I learned from this member was the use of the right club in the
right situation. As we got together to play a round of golf one day, he presented me with a gift. A special
golf club called a “loft wedge” that is used within ten yards of a green. It is a club that is only used to loft a
ball high in the air and with backspin so that it lands softly near the hole and leaves you with a short putt. I’
ve gotten pretty good with my loft wedge. Unfortunately, I’m still pretty bad with my driver, short-irons,
long-irons, and putter. But I’m good with my loft wedge!
If you want to play golf well, it is important to always choose the right club. You wouldn’t tee off with a
putter, nor would you putt with a driver. You wouldn’t use a nine-iron from 300 yards away (unless your
Tiger Woods, I guess) nor would you use a 2 wood to make a 10-yard chip.
In the same way it is also important to use God’s Word correctly.
If someone has really slipped up and is really feeling bad but has repented of their sin and is seeking
assurance of the forgiveness of their sins for Jesus’ sake, you shouldn’t use Nahum 1:2 with them. “The
LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on
his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.” Or someone who takes delight in cheating on his wife
and refuses to repent, you wouldn’t use Psalm 51:12 with that person. “Restore to me the joy of your
salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
The proper use of the Bible is something that is vital, but also takes a lot of training and practice to get a
hold of. Just because I know which is the right club to use in most situations, doesn’t necessarily mean
that I’m ready for the PGA tour. Knowing the correct Scripture to use in situations is not something you
can learn from a book. It comes from the school of experience.
But is it very important to “practice” through attending and being active in worship and Bible Study. It is
sort of like going to the spiritual driving range (although it is much more than that!).
God’s Word is an amazing, living tool for us. It brings not only peace to our own lives, but provides us
with the words to say to someone who is hurting and in need of Christ’s peace as well.
Make it a point to train yourself in using God’s Word correctly and powerfully.
© 2005 True Men Ministries, Inc.
8 years ago I was invited to play on a Monday night business league team. One of the members of my
church was the president of a local bank and an avid golfer. He fielded a team each year in this league. As
his new pastor, he asked me to play on his team when he heard that I liked to play golf.
I wasn’t really any good but I really enjoyed it. I was able to play quite a bit the first couple of years and
marginally improved my game. But what I learned from this member was the use of the right club in the
right situation. As we got together to play a round of golf one day, he presented me with a gift. A special
golf club called a “loft wedge” that is used within ten yards of a green. It is a club that is only used to loft a
ball high in the air and with backspin so that it lands softly near the hole and leaves you with a short putt. I’
ve gotten pretty good with my loft wedge. Unfortunately, I’m still pretty bad with my driver, short-irons,
long-irons, and putter. But I’m good with my loft wedge!
If you want to play golf well, it is important to always choose the right club. You wouldn’t tee off with a
putter, nor would you putt with a driver. You wouldn’t use a nine-iron from 300 yards away (unless your
Tiger Woods, I guess) nor would you use a 2 wood to make a 10-yard chip.
In the same way it is also important to use God’s Word correctly.
If someone has really slipped up and is really feeling bad but has repented of their sin and is seeking
assurance of the forgiveness of their sins for Jesus’ sake, you shouldn’t use Nahum 1:2 with them. “The
LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on
his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.” Or someone who takes delight in cheating on his wife
and refuses to repent, you wouldn’t use Psalm 51:12 with that person. “Restore to me the joy of your
salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
The proper use of the Bible is something that is vital, but also takes a lot of training and practice to get a
hold of. Just because I know which is the right club to use in most situations, doesn’t necessarily mean
that I’m ready for the PGA tour. Knowing the correct Scripture to use in situations is not something you
can learn from a book. It comes from the school of experience.
But is it very important to “practice” through attending and being active in worship and Bible Study. It is
sort of like going to the spiritual driving range (although it is much more than that!).
God’s Word is an amazing, living tool for us. It brings not only peace to our own lives, but provides us
with the words to say to someone who is hurting and in need of Christ’s peace as well.
Make it a point to train yourself in using God’s Word correctly and powerfully.
© 2005 True Men Ministries, Inc.
