“Do you not know that in a race
all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to
take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict
discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown
that is imperishable. Therefore, I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I
am beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that
after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” (1
Corinthians 9:24-27, BSB)
Paul wrote to
the Corinthian church to encourage them to continue in their faith and remember
God called them to Himself. He urged Christians to understand that being a
Christian is not trivial, but a lifelong commitment. Paul taught them being a
Christian requires discipline and encouraged them by reminding them of their
eternal hope.
Paul used the metaphor of an athlete competing in a big
race, like the games held every two years near Corinth. He reminded the church they
cannot take their faith casually and not prepare for the contests. Like an
athlete must exercise self-control of his body, mind, and heart, Paul said
Christians must be self-controlled and disciplined to fight the battles that
will besiege them. By training his body through strict habits and competitions,
an athlete subjects his body to his will. Paul taught Christians must prepare
themselves with spiritual disciplines that become habits to prepare for battles
against temptations, trials, and forces of darkness. He meant each follower of
Jesus will face contests to his faith, which can affect his body, heart, mind,
and spirit. Therefore, each believer must prepare himself with spiritual
disciplines/training, such as reading the Bible daily, memorizing and
meditating on it, praying, fellowshipping, and worshipping with other
believers, and standing up for his faith. Besides preparing for battle, each trial
and/or temptation can grow the Christian and strengthen him. Those battles will
make him ready for the next contest.
Living life as
a Christian means the person does more than believe. He does not “beat at the air”
without affect but strives, with training, to grow closer to God and emulate
Jesus. Growing closer to God and becoming more like Jesus happens by following
the spiritual disciplines mentioned in the above paragraph. When Christian
growth through training happens, the believer gains a greater trust in God—a deeper
faith. He fights battles with God’s strength and stands firm in his faith. The
runner trains for the contest by subjecting his body to his will.
Discipline
yourself. Subject it to your will, which you subject to God, and run the race
strongly. By doing this, you will not fall short of the goal. You will not fail
morally. Your testimony about God and the salvation He gives will prevail. Your
faith in Jesus will inspire others to seek and to know Him as their Savior.
Remember, instead
of getting a perishable crown, you receive the crown of life. Though thorny,
like Jesus’ crown, your crown identifies you as being one with Christ. The
thorns are the persecutions and temptations you endure and conquer, just as
Jesus endured persecuted and tempted to conquer sin and death. By this, all who
believe in Jesus become saved from sin and death. You, because of battling
temptations and trials for your faith, will be identified with Christ. You will
receive the imperishable crown as your reward from God, like Jesus’
imperishable crown, just as Paul wrote.
The contests—trails
and persecutions of life—will occur throughout a person’s life. The ability to
be victorious against them comes from going through them with God while receiving
God’s power, wisdom, knowledge, and might. Having these with which to battle
requires that the Christian discipline himself so he grows closer to God. By disciplining
himself with prayer, meditating on and memorizing God’s word, studying the
Bible, and attending worship services, the Christian draws close to God and
immediately calls out to Him to be with and equip him for each battle he faces.
The Christian, as a believer, has the imperishable wreath. He is God’s forgiven,
saved child. With God, the struggles of life are conquerable. Christians have
God with and for them, which makes the difference in their life journey.
If given the
opportunity, many individuals would avoid engaging in contests of will, mind,
heart, body, and spirit. Yet, we Christians have God’s mandate to tell everyone
about Jesus so all believers can receive salvation. We have God’s promise that
He will never leave or forsake us. Being able to live with and obey God daily
with the joy and peace He gives makes the battles we face worth the cost. Our
testimonies about God matter, regardless of the cost. Did anyone believe in
Jesus because of your actions or words? If someone believes in Jesus and is
saved from their sins, then the contests are worth the cost. Paul spoke of this
in Acts 20:24. He wrote,
“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of God’s grace.”
How we face contests/challenges to our faith is important.
Will our lives testify about God and His gospel? Or will our lives push people
farther away from God? Facing hardships as a Christian is worthwhile to testify
about God. The thorny, imperishable crown is worth the effort in life. Jesus
considered it to be true and became the preeminent example. He died to save each
person who believes in Him and confesses and repents of his sins. You will face
contests as a Christian. The challenges are worth the cost of obeying God to
spread the gospel. The crown is worth the contest and cost you will face.
Believe
and receive the imperishable crown.
Be
victorious in contests and live as a champion of the faith.
