THE CHRISTIAN ATHLETE (1Cor. 9:24-27)

Last week, I was thinking about going back to the YMCA, months after I stopped because of the problem I experienced earlier in the year, which necessitated the implantation of a pacemaker to regulate my heart rate. As I did, my mind wandered to the time when I was very athletic. I used to lift weights for strength and bodybuilding, and compete in track and field: racing, high and long jumps. It was during that reminiscence that the scripture above came to mind.

Paul writes: “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. 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. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Paul was using an athletic metaphor that the Corinthians will easily understand, the Isthmian Games held every two years in a Corinth suburb. Competitors went through grueling training, and winners received leafy wreaths which they wore as crowns. Paul made it clear that he did not have much interest in these temporary crowns, but rather in a crown that lasts forever. Understood. But what with this “possible disqualification” in verse 27. What does it mean, and how does it inform us as to how to live as Christians?

I believe Paul feared that after enlisting others for the race “preached to others” he might be declared unfit if he does not continue to “beat my body”, meaning keeping the grueling training schedule of the Christian. He used this metaphor to illustrate the fact that the Christian life takes hard work and self-denial. As Christians, we are always in training because we are running toward a heavenly reward. The essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship equips us to run with vigor and stamina. While Paul is preaching and teaching others about being dedicated and faithful to their spiritual training, he is making sure that he does not slack off his own training lest he is found to be out of shape and ordered to stand aside, disqualified for the prize; not salvation itself, but the privilege to tell others about Jesus Christ.

The takeaway is: It is easy to tell others how to live and then not to take our own advice. We must be careful to practice what we preach. In words and in deeds, we must not just talk the talk, we must walk the walk “being confident that he who began the good work in us, will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”. (Phil. 1:6) .

Let us Pray.
Gracious and Holy God, we praise and glorify your name. We thank you for who you are: the God of gods, the Lord of lords, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Dear God, help us to be faithful to our commitment to love you with all our heart and all our soul, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Give us the strength O! God to resist the pressures of this world and continue training and running the race toward our heavenly reward. In all that we do, may we be living witnesses for you. May we shine for Jesus, now and forever more. Amen.

By Rev. Franck Aquilh