1 Corinthians 9:24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. (NLT)
Every person born on Earth is called to run the race of life. As with everything, we can choose how we engage in the race. Many of us are like athletes ambling around on the track instead of being focused, determined and completely dedicated to our goal – to win the race. Since our prize is not temporary in nature, it is all the more important to dedicate our full attention to what we do so that the goal – to connect every lost person to God, can be successfully obtained. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 Paul encourages the church to run the race they are in in such a way that it will honour God – settling for nothing less than what would produce victory in the end.
Professional athletes set their goal to win first and foremost in their lives. Not only the time they train, but also every other thing they are involved in centers around what they need to do or refrain from doing in order to succeed. Likewise we need to be single-mindedly focused on obtaining the prize. Paul gives a few pointers as to what exactly is required to do this:
• Run with purpose (1 Corinthians 9:26): In order to succeed we need to know with certainty where we are, where we want to be and what we need to do to get there. Unless we have absolute clarity with regards to our goal, we will not have the capacity to obtain it. We have to run with the intention of winning. Defeat is not an option – God provided everything needed for us to achieve the goal set before us. Confusion sets in when we do not want to meet the standard set by the Word. The moment disobedience becomes an option in our minds, confusion starts ruling in our hearts. Successful athletes are single-minded. Successful Christians make the purpose of God for their lives the first and foremost priority in everything.
• Discipline the flesh (1 Corinthians 9:24-27): Success goes hand-in-hand with discipline. In order to be successful we cannot be subject to what our bodies want. The Bible cautions against being ruled by the flesh numerous times. Just like dedicated athletes have to be disciplined in what they eat, how much they sleep and train regardless of how they feel or what their bodies want, we have to determine what the will of God is and then do whatever it takes to obtain those outcomes. In pursuit of our victory, we are not at liberty to be lead by emotions or comfort. Our bodies are subject to the assignment and therefore not the determining factor in what we do or don’t do. Submission to the flesh in someone that runs to win causes a discrepancy that pre-empts sure defeat. In our walk with the Lord this causes us to speak right whilst failing to do right. Since we work for the ultimate prize of people’s salvation, it is clear that this kind of lifestyle will destroy credibility and so disqualify us as soul winners.
• A life of dedication (1 Corinthians 9:19): Born from his freedom in Christ, Paul made a choice to become a servant to every person he encountered. He willingly dedicated his entire life, every action, every word, to winning the lost. The very essence of who he was centered around what he wanted to accomplish. It became a life mission rather than an occasional action. In the same manner, we need to become dedicated, sold out and completely devoted to consistently do whatever we need to do in order to pave the way for people to be saved.
Our prize is not a temporary trophy. We are running to win the lost. Jesus paid the ultimate price in pursuit of making salvation possible for all. As children of the Father, in the image of Christ, we should have as our life goal, our most important priority, the very reason we breathe, to see people saved. Anybody that lives like this becomes a source of life to all. A life lived in wisdom, is a life focused on soul winning. Be challenged this week to make the changes necessary – let go of the burdens, embrace the discipline – so as to run the race in such a way that it will bring honour to the One who saved us and whom we love!