Fortune magazine arrived in the mailbox a couple of days ago. On page 49 is an Accenture advertisement featuring Tiger Woods. He stands in the rough looking down at his golf ball situated in a rocky crevice inches away from falling into water below. Tiger’s victory red shirt and black hat and pants indicate that this is the final round of the tournament in which he is playing. The caption on the ad is this: "It’s what you do next that counts."
The advertising copy at the bottom of the page says: "How can you ensure your next move is your best move? Our vast hands-on experience and research with the world’s most successful companies mean we can help deliver the right decisions, and the right results. We know what it takes to be a Tiger. Talk to us and see how we can help. Consulting Technology Outsourcing"
The news about Tiger is grievous. Failure and betrayal in abundance color this story. It’s not a new story. Neither is it limited to the rich and powerful. We hear stories like this about our peers in ministry far too often, although most often not to this extreme. One local pastor is selling cars after the church leadership heard recorded conversations between him and his lover. His wife, children, church, and community are devastated. So is he.
Accenture’s advertising is true for Tiger: It is what he does next that counts. Let’s pray that he meets Jesus in a saving relationship. Pray that he is able to put his family life together in a manner that honors God and blesses others. Pray for his wife, children, and other family members that they will find healing and peace in our Lord. Public repentance and a year away from professional golf to rebuild his life and family could serve as an important public lesson. It would be the most important lesson Tiger could ever teach.
Tiger is famously devoted to golf. Think of that commercial about a rainy day and his warm, comfortable home and Tiger out in that driving rain driving golf balls. Wouldn’t it be something if he could turn that famous concentration and dedication to the wife and children in his life? That would deliver "the right decisions, and the right results."
What about us? Are we like Tiger on golf or like Tiger on relationships when it comes to our own families? What protects us from leaving devastated family, friends, church and community members in our wakes?
The demands of ministry frequently compete with the demands of family life. Plan your ministry so that family life wins overwhelming victories in this competition. Master your schedule. Make time for what is most important.
Focus on the Family’s free Pastor to Pastor audio series featured a guest several years ago whose name is beyond recall. He said there are a lot of women in the church, but no woman is more important than your wife. There are a lot of children in the church, but no children are more important than your children.
No other man can stand in for you regarding your duties as a husband and father to your wife and children.
Most television shows and many advertisements portray husbands and fathers as dunces, idiots, or worse. Father hasn’t known best since the 1960’s. Don’t buy into that line of stereotypical hogwash. Become an expert in your wife and children. Know anniversaries and birthdays by heart. Don’t let them slip up on you unaware. Plan for them. Make them special times of celebration in your home. Write notes of appreciation and admiration to your family on these occasions.
Plenty of people enjoy taking your family down a few notches. You build them up daily. Their emotional health is one of your primary responsibilities. Give them a solid, biblical foundation to stand on while they and our Lord build their lives.
Become the man you know you need to be regardless of the deficient circumstances or parenting you endured. Your influence is more important than you will ever know this side of eternity. What you do and say now will influence generations. Your life is a sacred trust. Honor God and bless others with how you live it.
"It’s what you do next that counts." What will you do next?
