Bobby Jones was one of the greatest golf players ever. In 1925, early in his career, he reached the final round of the U.S. Open. At a certain point in the match, Bobby was preparing to play his ball out of the rough. His iron accidentally touched the ball which meant that he would be penalized. He knew that the officials had not seen the ball move. But Bobby immediately turned to the officials and called a penalty on himself. Since the officials did not see the ball move, they left the decision to Bobby whether he should be penalized or not. But Bobby again called the penalty on himself, and eventually lost the tournament by a single stroke. Bobby may have lost the tournament, but his character was legendary. Today the United States Golf Association’s award for sportsmanship is known as the “Bobby Jones Award”.
South Africa is in desperate need of honest people. Daily we read about the misuse of money, of theft and of corruption. Many officials in top positions receive millions from the State (tax money) and often do not deliver the services expected of them. They live in utmost luxury, drive the most expensive cars and stay only in top hotels, while so many people have to search through rubbish dumps for food, and sleep on sidewalks. But there are also many unscrupulous persons who cheat people through a variety of promises and thereby enriching themselves at the cost of their prey. It’s often credulous old peoplewho are targeted and who lose money that they saved for many years.
The Psalmist writes: What will God do to you, O deceitful tongue? He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals (Ps 120: 3-4). God urges us to be honest. Being honest should flow naturally from a relationship with God. Your honesty or lack of it reveals your true character and plays an important role in determining your future. Interviewers look for honesty in candidates. Solomon writes: If you are good, you are guided by honesty. People who can’t be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty…. Honesty makes a good person’s life easier, but the wicked will cause their own downfall. Righteousness rescues those who are honest, but those who can’t be trusted are trapped by their own greed (Prov. 11:3-6).
When he was praised for his honesty, Bobby Jones replied, “You may as well praise a man for not robbing a bank!” Jesus said: Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much (Luke 16:10).
Jesus is the Truth. Jesus said to Thomas: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Speaking the truth and living in it help those around us to find the Truth.
Dear God, I thank You that I can trust You with my life and with everything else. Help me to live in the truth because Jesus is the Truth. Amen.
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