Who's Your Caddy?

“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9

You can learn a lot about life by playing or even watching the game of golf. In professional golf, the guy who follows the player around carrying his bag all day long and is often found wearing what resembles a hazmat jumpsuit with the golfers last name across his back is known as the “caddy”. Caddies don’t just carry the bag of golf balls and clubs and snacks and towels around to the tune of about 33 plus pounds for 18 holes. The caddy is like a coach, cheerleader, therapist, meteorologist, horticulturist, confident and a host of other titles depending on the need and the golfer. Needless to say, countless tournaments have been lost and won on the advice of the caddy who studies the golf course, the weather patterns, the competition, to be ready to give advice at a moments notice. Had the game of golf existed in Jesus day Barnabas would have made a good caddy as his name meant, “son of encouragement.”

We all need a Barnabas, a caddy in life and thank God for the gift of faithful friends who walk beside us as we face life’s challenges. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” I read a devotional about professional golfer Sergio Garcia of Spain who is known for his hot temper on the tour. The story is told that after a bad round Sergio’s anger boiled over to the next round the following day. Still furious about his play the day before Sergio wasn’t in much of a talking mood so he instructed his caddy to only respond to questions he was asked by saying, “Yes, Mr. Garcia” and “No, Mr. Garcia”.

Usually golfers and caddies have a lot of discussion on the course during a tournament for the simple fact there is a lot of money on the line to be won or lost, but not on this day. The caddy knew better so he just stood and watched and listened. On the first tee Sergio hit a bad shot that landed squarely behind a tree just off the fairway. When he approached the ball he looked at his caddy and said, “Do you think I should hit my 5 iron?” The caddy responded as instructed with a simple, “No, Mr. Garcia”. Sergio went ahead and hit the 5 iron which landed just a few feet from the hole. An amazing shot that immediately brought a smile to Sergio’s face and as he walked towards the green he turned to his caddy and said, “What do you think about that shot?” The caddy replied, “That wasn’t your ball Mr. Garcia”. Oops.

Hitting the wrong ball comes with a hefty 2 stroke penalty. For “Mr. Garcia” that penalty probably cost him tens of thousands of dollars if not more and all because he was unwilling to listen. The point is this is, everyone needs a caddy in this life, someone to help us carry our burdens and who will walk with us and counsel us as we give each day our best shot. Thank God today for the gifts he has placed in your life, caddy’s who come in the form of parents, teachers, pastors, co-workers and friends who are there to help as they share with you the wisdom of God. Do yourself a favor today, friend, seek out godly counsel and be willing to listen and learn. It might not make you a lot of money like a pro golfer but it will provide something money can’t buy and that is peace of mind.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Proverbs 27:17

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