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It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters Tournament, and golf legend Arnold Palmer had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. He felt he was in pretty good shape. As he approached his ball, he saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. The friend motioned him over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.” Arnold later said, “I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus.” On his next two shots, he hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. He missed the putt and lost the Master’s because he had first lost his focus (Carol Mann, The 19th Hole, quoted in Reader’s Digest).
Many people forget what their purpose in life is. Many more never knew. What is our over-riding, number one goal? The Bible tells us: “We make it our goal to please [God]” (2 Corinthians 5:9). Said another way: “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Our number one goal in life is to honor and please the Lord. This takes an obedient serving heart. It takes a heart that wants to worship God in his church. But the entire focus is to please Him.
Larry Fitzgerald
Woodlawn church of Christ
Abilene, TX