Many of us saw them. They were standing tall on the boxes in front of the stage. Gold, silver, bronze winners stood at attention as the national anthem of the gold medalist was played. The athlete beamed with delight. The victory was not only personal, it was national. For many competitors, they truly won the medal as much for their country as for themselves. Some expressed real humility, as they recognized they could only compete because of so many other people…They felt the joy of winning something they could present to their family, their community, their nation! They learned a Biblical lesson! Real freedom comes from making the choice to win the prize for another’s glory!
Paul modeled four important truths that bring this into clearer focus. He lived freedom in Messiah! He knew that believers of his day needed to know four things to successfully be finally free: They needed to realize the truth that believers did (and do) have rights. All the time I hear believers say that we truly have none – that simply isn’t true. Our rights are intact, so that God can give us an opportunity to go beyond privilege to sacrifice, where real joy is. Paul also knew a second truth (an lived by it) – rights can be surrendered to honor our Savior and His purposes. He knew what it took to truly win in life. He also knew what the purpose of this life journey was (and is).
Paul told the believers at Corinth they needed to realize what he realized. They needed to know the truth. As a Christian and as a Leader, Paul knew he had many rights (9:1-14). These rights included the recognition of his God-appointed authority in their lives (9:1-2). With the function of his office came the right to have others care for his necessities (9:3-4). He could even get support for a family (9:5) and live with abstention from any other labor beyond the presentation of the Gospel message and establishment of new churches – a task he showed himself worthy of many times over (9:6-14).
To experience real freedom, Paul also knew he needed to choose the path that would mark the journey of his life! He chose to surrender those “rights” so that he could free himself from any sense of being beholden to those he ministered TO, in favor of the One he ministered FOR (9:15-23). He felt released from any accusation of men, and felt delighted to serve his Master in this way. A third truth Paul modeled was he set to win the race of life. He didn’t win by living longer, nor did he win by accomplishing more. He won by finding the purpose of life’s race, and then accomplishing that purpose. Paul knew he was made to bring honor and glory to the Savior and the Father that sent him. He learned what he was made for, then how to win at this thing called life. He shared some important truths about winning the race and what is required to be successful. I first read this idea for the seven success traits in an article by Pastor William Burnett of California. Though I didn’t use many of his points, I thought he captured the idea of the text well.
Every two years outside of Corinth there were famous Isthmian Games. They had events that were like our modern revival of the Olympic games: boxing, wrestling, and foot races. Winners reportedly received (in some cases) a lifetime exemption from paying taxes and serving in the city’s military structure. Some received free tuition at one of their academies. Others had statutes of themselves erected along the road that led to the site of the games. Yet the immediate prize was a wreath, awarded to the winner at the end of the games. The value was chiefly symbolic. Paul used the imagery of this event that was well known to all in Corinth. He mentions the games freely and even concludes the prize he sought was a sense of delight that he was being used by God in ministry, knowing that he had used all his energies and talents and gifts to God’s glory, for the good of the kingdom. He called on other Corinthians to join the winning team by taking a number of important steps.
First, he called on them to join the competition : Note the phrase “all run” in 9:24. The Nike slogan– “Just Do It” sums this up! There is no way to win a race if you aren’t deliberately running. You cannot “jump in spontaneously” from the sidelines and be declared the winner. To win the race requires that you get in the race. No one serves God from the starting blocks or the stands. Bench warmers invariably become critics, a totally unhelpful lot! It is impossible to be victorious without doing. We must be willing to change our commitment level. We must be to push ourselves – even when we feel like giving up. God will only say “Well done!” to those who DO something.
Paul also called the to compete lawfully: Note the phrase “in such a way (9:24). You cannot win if you start in the middle. You cannot win by your own set of rules. There are rules to a race, and following them is required in order to win the award!
Paul told them to discipline their behaviors in the phrase “exercises self control in all things” (9:25). There is no greater physical picture of bodily self control than an Olympic athlete! This gives the idea of inner strength – strength not to indulge or act on impulse. The word ‘compete’ that he uses is the Greek word for agony. It points to the tremendous effort that was put forth to win. It is true that “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23). It is further true that we are called to “Add to our faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control….” (II Peter 1:5-6). As one writer put it: “The point is that although the presence of our self-control is from the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), the practice of our self-control is our responsibility (2 Peter 1:4-7). (Burnett). The point is we must have strong control of our appetites and passions. If we want to win, we must prepare! The University of Indiana coach once said, “The will to succeed is important but what is more important is the will to prepare.” It is the echo of Benjamin Disraeli’s words: “The secret to success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes.”
Paul told the to focus on the prize: Note the phrase “They do it to receive a perishable wreath…” (9:25b). Scripture tells us the day of the wreath hand out, and the judge’s name in advance. It is silly to run a “Christian life” based on the popularity of anyone but the judge. 2 Cor 5:10 reminds us: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (NKJ) A clear cross reference to that verse is 1 Cor 3:13-15 13 “…each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (NKJ). As Max Anders said: “Only the disciplined ever get really good at anything.” Everything in life requires some sort of discipline. Whether it’s hitting a baseball, climbing a mountain, playing a musical instrument, or making good grades, it all comes down to a matter of discipline. Your ambitions , goals and dreams all find feet in your choices! It was the late Gus Nichols that a Christian spoke with and said, “I’d give my life to know the Bible like you do.” To which Gus Nichols replied, “That’s what it took.”
Paul told them to focus on the “best shots” (Good Stewardship): Paul punched “not without aim… box not in the air” (9:26). He argued, “I have limited strength and limited numbers of punches I can throw. I have to throw the ones that count!” In the days we live, it seems LIFE takes more time. I have to check every bill that comes in. If I get an unexpected magazine, it may well mean that some telemarketer has signed me up unawares. I have to run it down, press two, press six, listen carefully for our menus have changed… Life is complicated and our energies are quickly diminished. Simplify what you can – it will make you more effective! I remember the words of the Peace Corps: “If you’re not doing something with your life, it doesn’t matter how long it is”.
Higherpraise.com offered this interesting illustration: “I’ve read that John Wesley traveled an average of 20 miles a day for 40 years. He got up every morning at 4:00. He preached 40,000 sermons. He produced 400 books and knew 10 languages. At the age of 83, he was annoyed because he couldn’t write more than 15 hours a day without hurting his eyes, and at the age of 86, he was ashamed that he couldn’t preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that there was an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning.”
Paul promised they would need to learn to endure pain: The phrase “discipline my body” includes the term hupo-piadzo: (“under” + “to allow one’s self to be seen”) and is literally a word to show the black and blue marks that follow the victorious fight with honor! We want people to believe the process is painless, but that isn’t true and it isn’t helping them!
The battle of Marathon was fought around 490 B.C. when king Darius launched an attack on Athens. Since the surrounding city-states would offer little support to the Athenians, the Athenians were outnumbered by the Persians. Although the Athenians were outnumbered, they caught the Persians by surprise by running the full length of the plain and catching the Persians unorganized. The Athenians were able to defeat the Persians by not only striking from the front, but they also flanked the Persian army from the sides. Because of this sudden attack the Persian troops broke ranks and fled back to their ships. Since the Athenians won they wanted to send word back to Athens to tell of victory so the city could prepare for the Persian fleet attack from the sea. So Miltiades sent his best runner Pheidippides to take word to Athens. He ran the whole distance, about 26 miles, and when he arrived he was able to say one word . . . and then he died. What was the one word that Pheidippides was able to say before he died? It was “Nike!” He cried “victory!” The Athenians ran the whole distance of the plain of Marathon, which is some 26 miles. This could not have been accomplished without hard training and discipline. (sermon central illustrations).
Paul told them to compete circumspectly (9:27b) and “not be disqualified”. Paul had a sense that he could drop the ball and he needed to pay careful attention to anything that could knock him off the win. Pastor Alan Smith wrote a short list of some circumspect marching orders that are fitting:
We need to exercise our bodies. Paul says that “bodily exercise profits a little” (I Timothy 4:8). Our bodies are all we have to serve God with – the better we care for these bodies, the better we can serve God. We need to discipline our minds· to train ourselves to think. 2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV). We need a disciplined moral character. Many leaders with much talent have been “disqualified” because they didn’t discipline their moral character. We need to discipline our appetites. Say after me… “moderation…” We also need to discipline our speech. James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. No matter how self-controlled you are, if you haven’t bridled your tongue, you’ve still got a way to go. We need discipline in arranging our priorities. There are a lot of things that pull at you every day. You must decide what is important. Our maturity as Christians will be determined exactly and entirely by our skill in selecting. If we’re determined to “major in minors”, if we show a ”first-rate dedication to second-rate causes”, then we’re never going to mature as a child of God.
Paul knew to watch the finish line – but don’t look at the crowd or the tape, – look at the arms of a person! It was a few years AFTER the writings to Corinth that Paul said it best, in Philippians 3:13-14. His race was run for another. His race was run letting go of his personal attainments, and pressing with all his might for the prize of Jesus’ pleasure and joy. His prize was his Savior’s satisfaction that the sacrifice was truly understood! Some people may get the idea that achieving discipline is the greatest thing we can strive for as a Christian. But it’s not. A right relationship with God is the most important thing. Self-discipline by itself doesn’t make us right with God. Jesus did that. In fact, discipline can be its own trap:
Discipline can be misplaced. In Colossae laid down strict rules, “Don’t touch this! Don’t taste this! Don’t handle this!” thinking that those rules would make them right with God, but they didn’t. Pharisees were disciplined, but their hearts were hard. Discipline is only a tool to be used in our attempts to walk in love with the Lord.
Discipline can be misdirected. There is a certain satisfaction in being able to control ourselves, but it is dangerous when it becomes a self-satisfaction. Like the Pharisee who prayed, “Father, I thank thee that I am not as other men are…” (Luke 18:11-12).
Discipline can be misapplied. This is called asceticism. It focuses on prohibitions and rules concerning things that are petty. Discipline deals with things that will help us to be better people and better Christians. For instance, wearing a pebble in my shoe is asceticism. Setting aside 20 minutes every morning to study my Bible is discipline. Paul spoke of false teachers “forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” (I Timothy 4:3).
Discipline can be miserable. Without “delight in Jesus” it robs joy!
Paul knew how to be free. It took knowing the truth (I have rights), then choosing a path (I don’t need them!) setting the race for a win (learning discipline) and watching for Jesus’ loving arms! He knew that real freedom comes from making the choice to win the prize for another’s glory!
