Running the race - to win

long_distance_running

1 Corinthians 9

I wasn't much of an athlete at school. Most of my school years I was overweight, and had asthma and allergies. Usually last picked, usually last in the pack! That didn't mean that I wasn't competitive though. I liked (and still like) to win. When we enter a competition we usually want to do our best. Yet in some area's of our lives we don't think consciously about it being a race, about being competitive, about training, about winning:

"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 someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

As I was reading this passage, I thought back to a bunch of Facebook posts a few weeks back around the theme of "running like a girl"! OK, not too PC I guess, but they were fun! Short clips of girls running with arms and legs flailing. You knew they would never win a race.

So what is Paul saying here? He gives us a few good pointers as to how we should approach living out our faith:

Have a clear goal - Run to get the prizeGet prepared - Go in to strict trainingKeep your eye on the prize - A crown that will last forever

It is too easy to stumble on aimlessly, beating the air, not really having a clear vision of what is needed to win the prize. Not really thinking that we are in a race at all. Paul understood what was at stake. He trained himself, and ran to win - to get the prize.

The passage here isn't talking about our salvation, our works will not win or lose that prize. This is talking about our wanting to please and glorify God. About us meeting Him in heaven and hearing, "Well done good and faithful servant". Going back to chapter 3 we read:

"10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames."

I would rather not enter Heaven as "one escaping through the flames". Therefore, like Paul I will work out my salvation, using the gifts God has given me to run the race and win the crown.

Screen Shot 2014-08-13 at 8.26.10 AM Rob Gibson | Elder

Rob and his wonderful wife Helen were born in England, married in 1987. They moved to the USA in 1996, where they have lived since in California, Massachusetts, and Texas. They have 6 lovely children, Sarah, Claire, Nic, Laura, Jacqueline and Victoria, all of whom were homeschooled. Rob gave his life to the Lord in 1987, at the same time that Helen rededicated herself. Rob has been on a number of mission trips to Costa Rica, has led vacation Bible schools, soccer ministry, small groups, children’s and youth ministry, acted as lead program manager during the Hutto church plant, and is currently Chairman of the board of Directors at Camp Wilderness Ridge. Rob works at the Sears Call Center as Director of the Technical Solutions Group. Helen is an experienced homeschool mom, and is involved in children’s and small group ministry.

Leave a Comment

Comments for this post have been disabled.