Winning the U.S. Open Requires Defeating a Tiny Terror

The U.S. Open at Erin Hills begins today, and we’ll be watching golfers from around the world compete in this major championship.

Surprisingly, the 135 yards long, par 3 9th hole is expected to frustrate the players the most, while bringing extra entertainment to the fans.

With seven irregular bunkers surrounding the green, along with serious sloping and challenging crosswinds, this par 3 can quickly turn into double bogeys for golfers who get stuck in a bunker.

New York Times reporter, Bill Pennington, wrote an insightful article about the history of the hole with the headline, “To Win the U.S. Open, Golfers Must First Defeat a Tiny Terror.”

Although most golfers love a good par 3 (I know I do), this short hole is predicted to cause trouble with its many traps...and ultimately set some players back.

The same can be true in our own lives when we desire to stay close to the pin but succumb to countless traps that get in our way. The Bible warns us of one especially dangerous trap in 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NLT): "But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows."

Just like it’s easy to love a par 3 at first glance, we can do the same with money. We’d rather downplay it as a “tiny sin," but when we fall into its trap, getting out can be hard and this "tiny terror" can really set us back.

There is hope, however. As golfers land in a trap this weekend, they will ultimately look up to find the pin. Similarly, when we look to Jesus as our ultimate love and passion, we can escape the trap of our love for money.

This weekend as we watch the U.S. Open, and witness the golfers doing their best to get out of the bunkers, let’s reflect on our own bunkers around “the green.” Let's look to Jesus to satisfy our deepest longings and help us defeat our own "tiny terror." I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I recognize the many traps surrounding the love of money and pray that I’d stay out of those bunkers. I don’t want to get caught up in always wanting more money and longing to be rich. Thank you that I can find rest and satisfaction in Jesus. In His name, I pray, Amen.