Tiger Woods...$10 million...and me

Between Sunday services yesterday I caught a few holes of the PGA Tour Championship, the concluding tournament for this year’s FedEx cup. No surprise that I noticed Tiger Woods perched atop the leader board by several strokes. The FedEx Cup peaked my attention because of the $10 million first place check, followed by $3 million for second, and a cool $2 million for third – any of which would allow me to retire to Cincinnati in the summer to watch the Reds and Florida in the winter to run a cozy used book story (everyone know retirees love to read). But since none of this will ever happen, reality slapped me back to my senses. Then something dawns upon me. If eternity is eternal, and heaven is heavenly, and rewards are rewarding maybe we are “playing” for a reason. I use the word “playing” because there is a heaven for the winner and hell for the loser, and the Gospel of Christ and Bible spell out the rules.

Being a Grinder

No one enjoys the rigors of pastoral ministry. People are critical, preaching bleeds the soul and there is definitely no $10 million bonus. With all this in mind, do we continue our work for earthly accolades or heavenly joy? I often hear the commentators talk of Tiger as being a grinder. He may love coffee, but the point is he attacks every bad shot, every impossible lie, every spike mark with vigorous tenacity to overcome his odds…and he does. Do I? Do you? Ministry is risky but rewarding, and higher risks means greater joy. I may not fully grasp Paul’s way of thinking to “ rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings” (1 Pet. 4:13 ), but I’m working on it. Thankfully Paul adds, “… that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” Not just joy from sinking a putt and making retirement dreams come true, but EXCEEDING JOY! This is the joy of welcoming a child into the world or the joy of feeling for the first time that you are redeemed…only more joyful.

Yet our joy stands at attention waiting for the glory of Christ. This is our goal. He is our highest aim. It is when Jesus Christ is glorified that our joy is unleashed. We do not endure hardship to get our well-deserved joy. We endure hardship for Jesus Christ, who is our Joy.

Michael Wilburn