“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
In this verse, Paul is using a metaphor for what many Christian’s relationship with Jesus Christ looks like. The average “follower” of Jesus looks like a guy who shows up to a track meet in flip flops, eating a bag of chips, and out of breathe because he’s so out of shape that walking from the TV to the bathroom is his version of a marathon. Paul’s challenge is simple: why run to compete when God calls you to run to win?
An affective servant of Christ is the person who is “all in”. The person who demonstrations self-discipline, trains everyday, and feeds the itch that can only be scratched by the prize of winning Christ. Philippians 3:8 says, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Why fill our lives with material things and meaningless activity that adds nothing to our lives when we can have Christ?
The answer is selfishness. We want things to be easy. We would rather be mediocre or lukewarm if that means our life will be easier. But running to compete will never please God. I don’t know about you, but I want to have the heart of Paul. I want to do more for Christ than just compete. I want to honor God with my life. I want to gain Christ at all cost. I want to run to win!
