An Ask Pastor Kevin Response: How Can You Glorify God WHILE Playing Golf or Doing Whatever You Do?
Yesterday I wrote about Scottie Scheffler Masters victory along with his caddie Tom Scott. In that blog, I described how Scottie and Tom both are Christians who play golf instead of golfers who also happen to be Christian. As I wrote yesterday, this distinction is noteworthy. On multiple occasions, Scottie explained how important it is for his wife and him to glorify God in everything. In response to that blog, I enjoyed a variety of great conversations. Therefore, today, I want to answer the question: How can you glorify God while playing golf or doing whatever you do?
Are we first a Christian and then something else or are we first something else who happens to also be a Christian?
The primary point of yesterday’s blog seeks to answer the question, Are we first a Christian and then something else OR are we first something else who happens to also be a Christian?
In other words, the discipleship process in the Bible should result in Christians first who participate in society through a particular vocation.
The Bible authors are not satisfied with simply making Christians. Instead, our discipleship efforts seek to produce passionate followers of Jesus Christ who are God-honoring, Christ-exalting, Spirit-empowered, Bible-saturated people. God, as taught in the Bible, is not satisfied with simply teachers who are Christian, business people who are Christian, or even ministry-related folks who are Christian. Instead, God desires passionate followers of Jesus Christ who live each and every day in the moment striving for His glory, who happen also to teach, be in business, work in vocational ministry, be a golfer, or anything else.
Work at whatever you do, as you would for Christ. Consider what Paul wrote: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. In fact, the Lord Christ is the one you are really serving, and you know he will reward you” (Col 3:23-24).
Further, do not just work as unto the Lord, but no matter what you do, do it for God’s glory. Paul also wrote: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).
How Can You Glorify God WHILE Playing Golf or Doing Whatever You Do?
Paul clearly teaches – explicitly stated – that no matter what the task is, meaningless or not, do that thing for the glory of God. He simply means do whatever you do as a Christian first, not second.
It’s not about golf, it’s about everything – with God as the one you hope receives honor in doing it.
Athletics, vocations, family time, church service, vacation, sex, or whatever, our goal is to maintain God’s honor first and always; that is, seeking to live consistent with the Word of God and maintaining a God-consciousness always.
- In order to honor God in everything, whatever it is that you do must not be sinful. You cannot honor God and commit sin at the same time.
- In order to honor God, you need to be aware of God as you do whatever it is that you desire to do. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col 3:17, emphasis added). Notice how this text refers to our words as well as our actions, as they reflect what is important in our hearts. Further, this verse also emphasizes an overwhelming sense of gratitude to God in the process as well.
Sadly, many athletes are the opposite, as well as musicians, business leaders, politicians, and, even sadder, some pastors. They may say something about God or try to increase their sales by catering a song or project or an outer nod to Christians, but God is not foundational to their worldview. They functionally live the majority of time as if God does not exist.
Sadly, we do not always get this correct.
Sadly, you fail and I fail. We recognize what is expected, yet we fail to get it right always.
That is not what I want to do and I know is not what you want to do either. We would all love to be perfect and nail this every time.
Imperfection though does not mitigate our overall goal. Whether we eat, drink, play golf, or do whatever, our goal as individuals is to honor God in every day, all day – regardless of winning or losing, finding success or failing.
In that way, we desire to honor and glorify God. We do not desire to put on or put off our faith only when convenient. We are to live it regularly. Although we try to faithfully do this, we all fail. I do. But regardless of my activity or yours, I hope (and I’m sure you hope) to do it for the glory of God.
Captions from the 2022 Masters…
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