Competitors don’t like to be benched. Being pulled out of the game is the worst thing that can happen to those who want to be in the game. Even worse if you’re sidelined because of your ineffective or illegal play. To have trained so hard and played so hard only to be disqualified for some indiscretion or due to some lapse of focus adds insult to injury. Not enough just to be good . . . not enough just to play hard . . . but also necessary to stay focused, play by the rules, and finish well.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV)

In chapter 9, Paul writes to the Corinthians on how he has approached his “position on the team” as an apostle. As an apostle, given full-time to the proclaiming of the gospel, he had the right to expect to live off that labor. The principle and precedent for those that shared the gospel to earn a living from the gospel was well understood . . . taught by Moses (9:8-10) . . . commanded by the Lord Jesus Himself (9:14). “Nevertheless,” says Paul, “we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ” (9:12).

Paul was “all in” to the game. He was determined, by the all-sufficient grace of God, to “play the game” at it’s highest level and within the strictest interpretation of the rules. Rather than exercise his rights as an apostle, he instead determined to make himself “a servant of all, that I might win more” (9:19). He would take no credit for preaching the gospel . . . that was but a stewardship . . . that was simply (well, not so simply) discharging the call the Lord had placed on His life (9:16-17). But if he were to boast in anything, it would be that he discharged his gospel-proclaiming duty free of charge to those who needed to hear of the free gift of salvation (9:18).

Paul was “all in” . . . but you sense that he was aware that at anytime he could be “taken out” if he wasn’t’ careful.

Paul saw himself as a runner . . . not a hundred yard dash runner, but a marathon runner . . . and at the end of the race was a prize. Not some perishable wreath, or ribbon, or trophy, but the imperishable crown of “Well done, good and faithful servant” from the Master and a place amidst His glory for all eternity. And so, Paul was determined to run in a manner that would result in the realizing the prize the Lord had for him. He would not run aimlessly . . . he would not be like a boxer swinging wastefully at the air . . . but he would “complete” in such a way that, as much as lied within him, he would remain at the top of his game . . . in such a way that, at the end of the day, he would not find himself benched . . . sidelined . . . pulled out of the game . . . disqualified.

Not that Paul was in fear of losing his salvation, but he was aware of losing his privilege to serve if he served carelessly. He was aware of the ease with which he might become ineffective if he became “flabby” . . . letting himself go . . . running with less purpose . . . become arrogant or presumptuous . . . resting on past victories . . . losing sight of the prize. And to do so, could end up in him being disqualified . . . castaway . . . not standing the test . . . not approved. It seems that he believed it was not just about running the race but about HOW one run’s the race. Not just about competing but competing at the top of one’s game. Not getting too cocky concerning “your abilities”, but recognizing that it’s about at stewardship . . . about His gifting . . . relying on His grace . . . running the race by the power of His Spirit. How tragic to run but not finish well . . . how sad to think you’ve reached the finish line, only to find that you were pulled from the game miles ago.

Oh, that I would not lose the desire to be “in the game” . . . that I would continue to strive to be at the “top of my game” . . . and not be disqualified from “winning the game” . . . through His power within me . . . and by His grace upon me . . . for His glory . . . amen.