“Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people... Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:19, 24-27
“Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, ’If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.’” Mark 9:35
Throughout the Bible, there are countless times where the idea of becoming a slave or a servant appears, and that seems to be a praiseworthy goal. But what does this actually mean for us as believers? Does God really intend for us all to be enslaved?
This concept is not so much about being an ACTUAL slave as it is about the willingness to lay down one’s rights and freedoms.
In the passage quoted above, Paul uses the example of different kinds of athletes to explain to the church the type of sacrifice, discipline, and training a Christian should be prepared to--and want to--endure.
Athletes in serious training for a competition will give up many freedoms and “rights” as they pursue their goal of winning. They might give up the freedom to watch television or the right to eat whatever they want. They might sacrifice sleep and give up the right to attend parties or go out of town. Athletes are excellent examples of self-discipline, training, and giving up freedoms. From the outside looking in, one might see them as “slaves” to their endeavors.
In the same way that athletes sacrifice time, energy, and freedoms to develop discipline and train (day in and day out) for a race… we also should be willing to give up our freedoms, crucify our flesh, and discipline our bodies (become “slaves”) for the sake of our ultimate goal and calling from Christ.
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...” Matthew 28:19.
Just before Jesus ascends to be with the Father in heaven, He gives us this last command--this most crucial piece to living life as a disciple of Christ.
As we run this “race” of life, we are called to “win” people over to the Gospel--to lead lost souls to Christ. This calling on our lives takes on a very “competitive” nature when we realize there are also those who would seek to win these souls to over to darkness.
Paul wanted to run this Christian “race” of life well and to take as many souls with him as he possibly could. He knew that meant he would have to treat his Christian walk just as an athlete would treat a major competition. He would have to lay down his freedoms, discipline his body, and exercise self-control on a daily basis. To Paul, all of this was worth it for the sake of winning people over to Christ...for the sake of eternity.
How will you run to “win” today?
