RUNNING THE RACE
1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27
When I was in high school. I
signed up for the varsity track team. I
was reasonably fast on my feet and I figured that it might be nice to win some
races on the school team. I suppose
that I entertained visions of becoming a school hero as I led my team to
victory.
Once I had signed up and
joined the team, I learned that there was more to it than just showing up for
the race. First there were long hours
of practice and practice and practice.
While all of my friends were at the beach or going to the movies or
otherwise relaxing, I was expected to be running around the track and
subjecting my body to other indignities in preparation for a coming race. I came to discover that to be a winner takes
dedication and discipline.
Paul uses the illustration of
a race to portray the Christian life in several of his epistles, but none more
vividly than here in this first epistle to the Corinthians.
THE ILLUSTRATION OF A RACE
Do you not know that those who
run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that
you may win. (1 Corinthians 9:24).
Paul begins by pointing out a
common phenomena found in all races. It
is so obvious that it is sometimes overlooked.
Whenever you watch a race, all of the contestants who have entered the
race go on to run the course of the race.
This was well known to the
Corinthians. Every three years, their
city hosted the famous Isthmus Games.
Those who had signed their names to a particular race would be expected
to run. This brings us to the point
that Paul wants to make. Even though
all of the contestants run, there is only one winner.
1. Running
is not the same as Winning: Do you
not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?
(9:24).
What
does Paul mean by this? Does he mean
that there is only one winner in the Christian life? Does he mean that there is only one winner allowed per each local
church? I do not believe so. Rather, I think that Paul wants to show that
not everyone who runs in a race is going to win.
This
is the point. In any race there are going to be those who win and those who
lose. You don’t get the prize just
because you ran in the race. You only
get the prize if you win.
Running
is not the same thing as winning. While
it is true that it takes some effort to run, it takes much more effort to run
and win. For one thing, you have to
finish the race in order to win. You
can run the first part of the race in record time, but it doesn’t mean a thing
if you never cross the finish line.
It
is on this basis that Paul gives the believers at Corinth an exhortation. It is not just an exhortation to run. It is an exhortation to run so that you will
win.
2. Run To
Win: Run in such a way that you may
win (9:24).
Winning
the spiritual race doesn’t depend upon how fast you run. It is determined by HOW you run.
You
can run in such a way that you are certain to lose. I am reminded of a infamous college football player who
intercepted a fumble and then ran the ball all the way across the field for a
touchdown. There was only one
problem. He ran toward the wrong goal.
There
is a right way and a wrong way to run.
It did not matter to that player/s team that he ran with speed or with
style or that he was sincere. He was
running the wrong way. He cost his team
the game.
PRINCIPLES OF WINNING
And everyone who competes in the
games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a
perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not
beating the air; 27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest
possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. (1
Corinthians 9:25-27).
In verse 24 Paul exhorted the
Corinthians to win. Now he goes on to
give them several principles of winning.
He does not merely tell them what to do. He also tells them how to do it.
The Bible is very practical
in that way. It never gives you a
command without also giving you the instructions and the resources to fulfill
that command. It is the Christian’s
training manual and it tells you how to win the race.
1. The
Principle of Self-Control: And
everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things (9:25).
The
first principles in winning races is the principle of self-control. This is the principle of discipline.
You
cannot eat everything you would like to eat if you re going to win races. You cannot drink all that you would like to
drink. You cannot go everywhere you
would like to go. This does not mean
that any of these things are wrong. You
have a perfect right to eat a hot fudge sundae. But this will not help you to win any races.
By
the same token, Paul realizes that there are certain things he has to give up
if he is going to win the race that God has set before him. Sometimes this means giving up liberties
that he has a perfect right to enjoy.
If it means the difference between winning and losing, then Paul is
ready to give up anything that might stand in his way.
This
principle extends to every area of life.
An athlete is required to exercise control in ALL things.
This
means more than merely abstaining from certain things. I know people who have abstained from all
sorts of things and yet who have never won a race. Winning a race takes a great deal of positive effort. It takes devotion. It is hard work. It is
not always fun.
I
know from experience that when you are out there running around the track and
doing calisthenics while your friends are all relaxing and enjoying themselves,
you often find yourself wondering if it is worth all of the effort. Paul turns now to this problem of motivation. It is found in the prize.
2. The
Principle of a Motivation: They then
do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable (9:25).
The
winner of the Isthmus Games received an olive wreath that had been fashioned
into the shape of a crown. This olive
wreath was placed on his head. It
declared him to be the winner.
This
was the goal for which he strived. This
was the motivation for all his training.
He would wear the wreath and he would receive the acclaim from all the
crowd. He was the winner. And then he would go home and place that
wrath over the mantle of his fireplace.
The years would pass and the wreath would fade. Its leaves would turn brown and brittle to
the touch. Finally it would be thrown
away.
Paul
says that we have a much greater prize.
We do not labor for a prize that will fall apart after a few years. We are striving for an eternal prize.
This
ought to be a great source of motivation.
What you do today is going to count for all eternity. You say, “But I didn’t do anything today!” That will also count for all eternity.
3. The
Principle of Efficiency: Therefore I
run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the
air (9:28).
The
third principle of winning is the principle of efficiency. It says that races are not necessarily won
by the one who runs the hardest, but by the one who runs the smartest. There is a strategy to running. It requires
that you do not waste energy. It
requires that all your energy be directed toward achieving the proper goal.
I am
not a great football fan, but I have managed to watch a few games. Not once have I ever seen a player who,
while he was running with the ball, stop to admire one of the
cheerleaders. He would be
clobbered. He cannot divide his
attention and expect to win the game.
Paul
uses two illustrations to make his point.
·
There is the runner who
runs in the right direction, staying on the track as he runs the race.
·
There is the boxer who
makes every punch count, rather than wasting his effort in swinging at empty space.
In
each illustration, the point is the same.
It is that the effort that is used must be effective in achieving the
desired goal.
4. The
Principle of Disqualification: I
buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to
others, I myself should be disqualified (9:27).
This
is the final principle of winning. It
is the principle that shall take us over into the message of the next
chapter. It is the principle of
disqualification.
One
of the saddest things about any race is that it is possible to persevere
through all of the training, exert all of the energy to run the entire course,
only to be disqualified because of an infringement of the rules.
There
are rules that must be followed in any race or else the race is forfeit. The spiritual race that we run is no
exception.
What
are the rules of the race? They are the
commands that God has given to us. They
are His instructions found in His Word.
The temptation is always present to run in a haphazard direction, taking
“short-cuts” and ignoring the rules.
But to do so involves disaster.
To do so will result in disqualification.
I
have known a number of Christians who have been disqualified from the
race. They had spiritual gifts. They sometimes even built up great ministries. They seemed to have an exciting relationship
with God. Then sin crept in. Sin is always a disqualifier.
How
about you? Are you running the
race? Are you doing so with motivated
efficiency as you lead a disciplined life?
There is still a warning. It is
that it is possible for one to run the entire race and even come across the
finished line, only to find that you have been disqualified because you did not
run according to the rules.
Remember that these
principles are given in the context of the issue of the weaker brother. The question was whether Christians would
see fit to limit their own liberty in order to build up the body of
Christ. Building up the body of Christ
involves...
·
Self control.
·
Motivation.
·
Efficiency.
·
Approaching ministry in
accordance with God’s principles -- “playing by the rules.”
You have a race to run. You have a ministry to fulfill. It has been given to you by the Lord of all
the earth. It is your life’s calling
and was given to you by your Creator.
There is a prize that is worth winning.
It isn’t easy. But it is worth
the effort. Fulfill your ministry.