Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NLT)
What Paul says in this verse could be challenging or discouraging, depending upon our perspective. What is our goal, and what is the prize? Nothing of significance is accomplished without a goal. To compete as an athlete in the Olympic Games requires dedication and sacrifice that does not occur accidentally or casually. The same thing is true of our spiritual lives.
At this level of competition, “God-given talent or ability” alone is insufficient to win the prize. It is virtually impossible to endure an athlete’s sacrifice and deprivation to compete at the highest level unless they have the goal in mind.
To be successful, a world-class athlete must train, whether he feels like it or not. They make many sacrifices but do it because they have an objective and a goal. As Christians, we also have a goal. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
We must have a goal as we face the trials and troubles of life. People give up when they lose sight of the goal. We must encourage and build each other up. We have a responsibility to look out for each other.
Who is the competition?
Paul tells us that in a race, everyone runs, but only one person wins. What does Paul mean by this? He doesn’t mean that we are to run against each other, does he? Will only the most robust and most capable believers win the race? If this were so, most of us should give up now!
I didn’t mean to cause alarm, but we are not contesting this race against each other. We have three opponents determined to keep us from reaching our goal. Our first opponent is the Devil. At his disposal, he had demonic spirits in the enticements of this world in his effort to hinder our race for the prize.
This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Ephesians 6:12 (MSG)
The Devil has made it his mission to see that those who run for the heavenly prize are stopped and discouraged. The Devil has many tools and is not afraid to use them. They have names like discouragement, fear, temptation, worry, doubt, complacency, etc.
What may surprise you is that the Devil is not our most formidable adversary. In the famous words of the comic strip character Pogo, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” Not surprisingly, our flesh and the enticement of the world are vigorous opponents in our race for the prize. We must overcome the enemy and show no mercy.
What is required?
What is required to win the prize? What must we do to be as prepared as possible to face the challenges in this race that we are running? God has promised us that he would never leave us or abandon us. We also have the responsibility to encourage each other.
We must train hard. We must be devoted to winning the race, even if it means sacrificing some of the pleasures and conveniences of life. It requires commitment. Training to win happens only with a strong commitment! Commitment is a lost word today. We commit absolutely, positively, unequivocally, that is, until something easier or better comes along. But real commitment is a solid agreement to do something in the future—no matter what.
Commitment is costly. It costs time, hard work, and self-denial. We need discipline to the Word of God — studying it, meditating on it. A time of regular prayer is nonnegotiable. Commitment to serving in the Lord’s church is a must. God seeks a commitment that requires self-denial, saying no to the world and yes to Christ.
“Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you’ll sit down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Luke 13:24 (MSG)
Just hanging around or watching other athletes preparing for the race is not enough. It requires vigorous preparation and determination.
Coaching Tips
- Don’t take shortcuts. I’m sure everyone has seen those commercials advertising diet or fitness products that are guaranteed to work without effort or suffering. Set your easy chair in front of the television, buy this product or device, and you can have the body of a 20-year-old athlete. If you follow this program for five minutes daily, you can also look like this! Doesn’t it all sound familiar? We will also find spiritual equivalents to the shortcuts, guaranteed to take away the pain and difficulty of discipleship. But the Lord disciplines those that he loves. We must be people of the word and prayer.
- Don’t give up. You may be discouraged and wonder if the reward is worth the effort. You may see others fail around you and abandon the race; don’t give up. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 2 Corinthians 4:16–17 (NLT)
- Don’t be disqualified. Paul emphasizes that he wants to train correctly so that he will not be disqualified from winning the prize after preaching to others. It illustrates that someone can teach others and encourage others to go for the prize, but they might fail unless they follow the training rules.
Finally, keep your eyes on the prize and go for the finish line. I recall the words of an old song, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ; one glimpse of his dear face, all sorrow will erase. So bravely run the race till we see Christ.” We are running to win.
Steve Ekeroth