1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Scripture: 1 Cor. 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

1 Cor. 9:25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

1 Cor. 9:26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

1 Cor. 9:27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control,[b] lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Teaching: Paul alludes here to the Olympic Games in Greece, comparing the life of a Christian with that of an athlete doing all they can to win their race. What is this race though? Scripture is clear that we do not compete with each other, as if only one Christian wins the best prize. Rather, we, in the metaphor here, compete with ourselves — doing all we can to take full advantage of the opportunities God gives us. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Jesus taught in Luke 12:48 that to whom much is given, much is expected. And Jesus taught in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) that in this life, we are all given differing measures, but the quantity of return is not the evaluation, but rather the faithfulness of its stewardship. 

So what is the prize that Paul speaks of here? Simply, eternal rewards. We do not know precisely what they are other than that they are imperishable and desired. For all the wealth and comfort that this world can provide — which God created — Christ says repeatedly that we seek treasure in heaven over anything this world can provide, both because it is eternal and because it is better. 

So, Paul’s point here is that just as athlete gives their all, making sacrifices and enduring pain, in order to be the one to receive an earthly prize, so we all as Christ-followers should give our all to pursue the prizes that are eternal, taking advantage of every opportunity that God gives us. We should be willing to give up liberties when they interfere with our mission. We should be willing to discipline ourselves in order to preach the Gospel more effectively. 

Takeaway: When Paul says in verse 26, “So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air,” I can’t help but remember back to my days as a competitive swimmer. I remember teammates who would come to practice and swim the required yards, but not push themselves. Not work on the things that mattered. Not come into that practice with the goal and expectation that they would get better, faster that day. Some days that was me, too. But I saw some swimmers never get better over the course of a year or more because they brought no focus or intention to practice each day. They swam the same sets and practices I did, but with vastly different outcomes. Paul calls us in this verse to consider the impact of the things we are doing for Christ. We know God is the Lord of the Harvest, and there are seasons when we are planting but yet reaping nothing. But the question we should ask ourselves is this: Are we bringing our focus and intention to the mission of Christ? Or are we simply going through the motions? In my experience, one can call themselves a swimmer because they are part of the swim team. But are they competing to become better? Are they working to improve their best times? Are they making the necessary sacrifices out of the pool so as to be sharp in the pool the next day? Or are they merely swimming aimlessly, waiting out the clock for practice to be over? Christ has so much for us, an abundant life of opportunities to share in His grace and love with others and to earn rewards in eternity. We should approach them as Paul did, with intention, focus, and willing sacrifice.