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Who is the greatest golfer of all time? Most people would say Jack Nicklaus, who won 15 major tournaments and finished among the top five and top ten places more times than any other golfer. But things might have been different if Tiger Woods possessed more self-control. Tiger was a phenomenon on pace to overtake Nicklaus. He burst on the scene as a young player and racked up victories. He won 14 major tournaments in eleven years beginning in 1997. But things changed drastically on Thanksgiving Day in 2009. On that day, Woods’ wife found romantic texts on his phone and called the number, discovering Woods’ lover. Woods left their home shortly after in their Cadillac SUV and hit a fire hydrant and tree. A media scandal erupted. Woods’ play deteriorated as other affairs became known. He and his wife divorced the following year.* Woods would not win another major golf tournament until nearly ten years later, to date, his last. Without self-control, his life crashed.
Self-control is needed in every aspect of life. 2 Peter 1:5-6 tells us to “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control.” (NIV 1984) We need self-control in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual realms of our lives. We find it as God’s Spirit changes our hearts. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. Follow his leading.
*Jim Peltz, “Tiger Woods hurt in car accident in front of his Florida home,” Los Angeles Times, November 28, 2009, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-28-la-sp-tiger-woods28-2009nov28-story.html
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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.