Making the most of your life, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Read with me…

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 (ESV)

“24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Paul writes about the focus and determined approach that each one of us should have with life. We as Christians are called to live with purpose and be intentional with what do and don’t do along the way. Our goal is loftier than anything this world has to offer, or pursuit is more meaningful that the rewards that we receive in this life. We live for the greatest reward because we live for an eternal reward.

Run all the way to the finish line

9:24-25

“24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”

Run with all you have, all the way to the end, and don’t look back.

Don’t run for a bit and say, I’ve been there and done that.

Don’t hit pause on your walk with Christ and say it’s college, or I’m still young… too many Christians in the last few generations have taken a 4-8 year break on their faith in the name of “growing up.” Know this, it’s bad practice for what it means to truly grow up

If you run for a bit and take intentional pauses from living for God you can take this to the bank:

it causes grief in your marriage it causes issues in your parenting it damages your friendships more than anything it hurts you and impacts your relationship with God and your witness right now

Unlike a race where one wins and the rest don’t… yes, the great philosopher of the 2010’s Ricky Bobby is right, if you’re not first your last. But, unlike a foot race where only one person wins the prize… everyone who belongs to the Lord does receive the prize… the reward is Jesus and the eternal life He has promised.

So, Christians should run like the one who is going to win…

Why wouldn’t you, a Christian, want to run the race with all you’ve got all the way to the end?

Is there something better than God?

Is there something worth telling God to “hang on a minute” I really need to get this out of my system… the God of the universe, who made not just you- but everything that has ever existed in our solar system and outside of it.

The one who made the angels, the one who is more powerful, righteous, and amazing than anyone else- sent Christ to die for you because He loves you… don’t give him the hand while you trot out and see what you’ve been missing…

Paul speaks of the prize as two-fold, on the one hand it is his eternal life, and on the other it is fame of God’s name in the lives of others. (aka glory)

Jesus is waiting at the finish line… if you belong to Him run like it! Live like it!

Place what God wants over everything else.

Since we have been promised eternal life in Christ, we run like the one who wants to win.

It’s possible that you are sitting there thinking that I am just a little over the top. Just a little too much preacher, and not enough real person. If that’s where you, I’d challenge you to read through the entire Bible, OT & NT, in an effort to prove to me that God wants something less than all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. I’d challenge to find in scripture that God wants a lesser purpose than His fame in your life and in the world. I’d challenge you to find Scriptures that teach us God really just wants a few prayers here and there and whole lot of selfish living. Find for me the parts of the Bible where God says as long as you start the race everything will be fine… Read the Bible, find out what it says on your own, my goal is for you to win the prize. I want you to receive the imperishable wreath. I want you to live now like you will live in heaven. I want that for you because it’s what God wants for you.

LIke I mentioned last week there are people all over the country who are starting new things this time of year, and based on statistics a good number of those are already bailing on their resolutions.

Following Jesus isn’t a resolution or a challenge to accept for the next few months… No, this really is about our life. And God gives us His Word so that we can understand who He is and what he wants of us as we “run the race”

9:26-27….

26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Embrace God’s purpose for your life (vs. 26)

Too many people of all ages are just going through life reacting to what happens around them. They don’t accomplish their goals, they always have excuses, and in the end they have tons of regrets. Often they become cynical and critical of others. But there is more to life than just reacting to things. When you have purpose, when you live for the goal of Christ then you respond instead of reacting.

Paul says “I do not run aimlessly…”

What does it mean to run aimlessly? It means to run without any direction or purpose…

In the verses before our passage Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

“19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”

The aim that Paul is speaking of is, as he says, “for the sake of the gospel.”

This means that Paul understands that his life is no longer his own… and because his life is not his own he has embraced God’s purpose for his life and orders his life around His relationship with Christ… and his life for Christ is ordered in a way that prioritizes God’s grace for others…

Though Paul has dedicated himself to living for the Lord and sharing the Gospel. He understands that how he lives has an impact on the effectiveness of his witness.

Embracing God’s purpose fo your life means accepting that how you live is for God, and for the sake of others.

We are not aimless in what we do… we consider what we do in light of the gospel…

Like a runner or athlete in training… we discipline ourselves to live as testimonies and witness for God to those around us.

Think trajectory more than accomplishment (vs. 26)

If you are aiming your life in the direction of Christ, then when you look at the arc, route, or direction of your life- you ask yourself is my life aimed in a direction that fits with my profession of faith and trust in Jesus.

Are you present running or aiming in a direction that leads toward the goal of heaven? If someone traced your current route, the way you have been living, would they then plot a course to the finish life of hearing the Lord say, “Well done my good and faithful servant?”

It’s tempting to think about life in compartments, and as long as there is a compartment for the religious stuff then we are ok. Instead, we are to consider if the totality of our life fits with Jesus… This means there will be moments that are not what God wants- and those are moments we strive to repent from and ask God to help us and forgive us… but they are in the trajectory or direction of a life that is aimed in Godward and Christ-centered direction.

It allows us to constantly think about where we are going rather than resting on where we have been.

Like it says in Philippians 3:13–14 (ESV), 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Thinking trajectory helps us to focus on what God is doing and how He is leading rather than on what we have done.

When it comes to trajectory and direction there are habits and rhythms to being aimed in God’s direction for your life. These habits help us to grow and mature so that we are able to live and make decisions that fit with God’s purpose…

One of the most important things you can do is to grow in your relationship with God through prayer and His Word.

Rooted Journal plug… a regular time with God and His Word will help direct your life in the purpose and trajectory that God has for you.

Don’t waste what God has given you (vs. 26)

Paul says, “I do not box as one beating the air…”

In boxing they keep up with all the punches thrown, the ones landed, and the ones missed. When you throw a punch and miss, it expends an incredible amount of energy and leaves you weaker and more vulnerable.

The point to this is: Don’t waste any punches…

What you look at Who you spend time with What you say (or don’t say)… be truthful, honest, transparent, Christ centered

Speech seasoned with salt…

Where you go (or don’t go)

When you spend yourself on things that outside of God’s will. When you give yourself to someone else, when you put all your effort into worldly endeavors, when you pursue material things, or when you surround yourself with people who are not aiming for the goodness of God- know this- it takes it out of you.

You may think that as long as you do a few good things for the Lord everything is alright, but hear this, regardless of your age…

If you fill your life with people and pursuits that are contrary to God’s good plan for your life you will regret it.

This is why Paul says in verse 27…

27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Practice what is preached, and preach to yourself and others. (vs. 27)

Paul is aiming to live in a manner consistent with what He has been preaching.

So, there are a few things that come to mind here…

Be a part of a church that preaches what Scripture says, explains what it means, and applies it your life in way that makes sense with what the Bible says.

What you do with your body and mind are related to your heart and soul. (Romans 12:1-2)

Prioritize your relationship with God by organizing your life around the goals of being faithful to God and bearing the fruit of Christ. (time with God, relationships with other Christians, etc) These things don’t just happen… In the same that an athlete exercises self-control in all things (diet, exercise, rest, etc). Athletes don’t just run, they eat well, stretch well, and rest well.

If being an athlete requires a dedicated lifestyle, then how much more does Jesus deserve your dedication to Him.

1 Timothy 4:8 (ESV)

8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Question to consider: What prize are you running for?

(Have you evaluated your trajectory? Does your aim match your stated goal?)

Fame

Relationships

Money

Jobs

Security/Fitting In. (many times its not about being popular, its really more about not being unpopular)

Commitment to consider: Surrender your life and make your life count by trusting in Jesus and living for Him.

Commitment to consider: Growing in your relationship with God through prayer and the Word.

Commitment to consider: Gathering with the body of Christ more consistently that you did last year.

Commitment to consider: Giving to the Lord through the church out of love for what He has done for you. ‘

Commitment to consider: Running the race all the way to the finish line