The Finish Line and the Prize

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

THE FINISH LINE AND THE PRIZE

1 Cor 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

NIV

Training ourselves is the key here, but what exactly does the training consist of? Paul talks about training his body, making it his slave in order not to be disqualified for the prize. He has been talking about eating food that had been sacrificed to idols and that idols mean nothing as there is only one true God. He also has been talking about having freedom in Christ, but that if that freedom caused a weaker believer to engage in the same freedom Paul has and feels guilty or shame for doing it, then Paul says he will not exercise his freedom. What he says here is that he is in control of his own freedom and it does not control him. This is not about food and drink, although that might play some role in it, it is more about having self-control over all aspects of our lives. As we have thought before, many believers have this stigma regarding controlling what they drink and think alcoholic beverages are evil but will overeat themselves into obesity, or eat foods that are extremely unhealthy. Others cannot control their thoughts or attitudes and consequently their words, which are both harmful to themselves and those they speak to or about. This sort of living is what Paul says is aimlessly runner about, and not even runner toward the finish line. The whole idea of our running is to cross the finish line. In the case of a physical race, only one gets the prize, but in our case, we all can have the crown of life, the prize for just finishing the race. This means we have to be in the race, and on the right racecourse. Oh, sure there are going to be some hurdles along the way, and what may look like high jumps and others we will need to pole vault over. The race might even take on the persona of a triathlon and we may have to swim through rough waters or bike up and over steep hills, but the race will go on and nothing will deter us from crossing the finish line. Yes, we can get distracted by a smoother path, or by some cotton candy along the way, that is those temptations that can cause us to either delay our running, or to run aimlessly in circles. Self-control and this includes all aspects of our life, is one of the fruit of the Spirit and as we run or keep in step with the Spirit, he will lead us right to that finish line and the prize.