In the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, there was an eighteen-year-old runner named Athing Mu. She ran the 800 meters for the United States and was the youngest competitor in her field. Her age didn’t matter because she left the rest of the runners in the dust. She came close to a world record. The Apostle Paul likes your Christian faith to running the race, and he wants you to run to win.
1 Corinthians 9:24
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.”
Live Your Faith
Paul loved to use metaphors like athletes, soldiers, and farmers to get his points across. It was similar to how Jesus used parables to make spiritual doctrine easier for the uneducated masses to understand. In Corinth, they understood the example of the athlete because they held an athletic competition called the “Isthmian Games.” It was similar to the Olympic games held in Athens. Athletes from all over Greece would come and compete and would be award wreaths as a reward. Paul wants Christians to live their faith like athlete run, to win.
Well Done
What does it mean to “run in such a way that you may win?” The ultimate prize is eternal life in heaven, where God says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” There are other ways to obtain the prize; to stand firm in your faith and not back down and to grow the fruit of the Spirit in your heart. The worst thing a Christian can do is stay idle and on the sidelines.
Run to Win
We are not competing against other Christians in this race. This race is against the dark spiritual forces that want to discourage you from living for Jesus and derail your faith. Run the race and aim for the prize. It won’t be easy, but you won’t regret it. Run to win.