“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. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

Paul would probably shine as a debate champion in any collegiate setting, so compelling is his line of reasoning. First he established the Christian’s freedom from the law, even in matters of food offered to idols. Then he moved beyond any personal benefits of that freedom, and beyond the hindrances of what others think, in order to reach all kinds of people for the gospel. Indeed, in a cosmopolitan port city such as Corinth, with sailors and merchants from all over the world coming through, there was certainly a kaleidoscope of customs and lifestyle practices.

In more recent times, one thinks of missionary Hudson Taylor who dressed and wore his hair like the Chinese men in order to reach the people of China. Many Christians censured him for that behavior, but he won many to Christ. Martin Luther used common tavern drinking tunes and set Christian words to them. Both understood Paul’s teaching in this passage.

The goal for Paul was to preach the gospel so that many would be saved. He used two athletic illustrations: running and boxing. Every trained runner has been taught to keep his eye on the finish line. Don’t look at other runners and certainly don’t listen to their trash talk. Keep focused! Run with the singular goal in mind—to win. An indispensable part of running success is the exercise of self-control, forgoing many enjoyable things in order to reach the most desirable thing—the winner’s crown. By analogy, freedom in Christ means we freely choose to move beyond our freedom to enjoy many things, in order to focus on and strive for a greater goal. We sacrifice everything else to attain it.

The same is true of boxing. In fact, Paul hyperbolically asserts a boxer needs to make his body a slave to the goal of winning. We are free to capture and focus our own bodies to the greatest and ultimate task—to live for others and not ourselves. For Paul that meant doing whatever was necessary to effectively preach the gospel of Christ and Him crucified. The last thing he wanted to happen was to fall short of that through any kind of disqualification.

Lord, help me identify the selfish things in my life, and the lack of self-control, that are hindering me from freely doing the things You have called me to do.