Running the Race To Win

Do you not know that all the runners
in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. Every competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

– 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Paul’s analogy is that, as believers, we should live our lives on this earth, determined to win. The question becomes: which prize are we running for? Are we running for the crown that will eventually fade away¹ or for the one that will never perish, spoil, or fade? To win the latter prize, the real and imperishable prize, we must be self-controlled and alert; we must be disciplined; we must be in tune with our ‘trainer’; and we must actively pursue and discipline ourselves to follow the regimen He has called us to. Staying with Paul’s analogy of running the race, I use the word trainer here in reference to God, the Father, Son, and Spirit. Many, if not most, athletes have some kind of trainer. The trainer prepares them for their sport and works with them to get them in shape, so they grow stronger and more able to ‘run the race’. The trainer cares for them, advising and encouraging them to stay the course, or alerting them when they veer off course. A relationship builds between them, trust builds, loyalty builds, and the athlete performs not just to finish the race, but determined to win the crown, and perhaps even more so ~ the approval of the ‘trainer’.²

The race is won or lost long before you ever cross the starting line.³

1. The metaphor explained: Corinthian society was highly competitive. The city hosted an Olympics-style event every other year, with games highlighted by foot races. Paul is using these races as a metaphor for a life of service to Christ and others.
   
   The point of participating in a race is to win, and winning takes work. Athletes who hope to be competitive must exercise great self-control (emphasis mine) “in all things.” This would include not just physical training, but also strict diets, sleep schedules, abstaining from harmful drugs, and caution in their behavior. Through it all, they would keep their focus on winning the race and getting the prize: a wreath. At the games in Corinth, they placed a pine wreath on the winner’s head like a crown. If Paul were writing this today, he might refer to the gold medal of the modern Olympics.
   
   Paul’s point is that such a wreath will soon die. The honor of winning the race is short-lived. Christians, though, exercise self-control and self-denial in order to win a crown that will never die. Believers should seek this with all the dedication of an athlete who knows only one person can win the crown. Christians don’t literally compete “against” one another, of course, so the emphasis here is on commitment and effort, not rivalry. ↩︎
2. This undying crown or reward is not eternal life. Paul’s teaching is clear: No amount of self-denial or effort will earn for us God’s approval and a place in His family. Jesus earned that for us, and it is given as a gift to those who believe (Ephesians 2:8–9). Instead, Paul is describing a reward for service to Christ that will be given in addition to salvation. In Paul’s case, that recognition from Christ will be because of those he “won” to faith in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 2:9–20). ↩︎
3. LGG, The Fruit of the Spirit, digital journal, p 175 ↩︎