1 Corinthians 9:27
Ps Paul Cheng
~2 min read
As we come to the end of the theme, “how to run the race faithfully,” let us briefly recap what we have learned in our previous pastoral chats. We have touched on the importance to (1) run to win, (2) run with self-control, and (3) run to obtain an incorruptible crown. Today, we have come to the last aspect and that is to (4) run to be approved by God!
IV. Run to be approved by God
1 Corinthians 9:27, But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by many means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
To keep under my body, and bring it into subjection basically means to discipline oneself. The Apostle Paul was reiterating the point he had made in the preceding verse 25 to be temperate in all things (exercise self-control). The reason why he was determined to exercise discipline and self-control was to prevent himself from being a castaway (adokimos) which means to be disapproved or disqualified. An athlete who failed to meet the training requirements would be disqualified. What is the work of the preacher? His work is to preach to the people about the requirements that God has set for His people to follow; e.g. how they ought to run the Christian race faithfully. If Paul had preached these requirements to the people, but he himself was castaway or disqualified for not meeting those requirements, everything would be meaningless. That was the point Paul was trying to stress.
Many believers would start the Christian life with great passion and devotion, and they train carefully and run well, but only for a while. Soon, they begin to slacken and no longer train and run as hard. They allow the world, flesh, personal interests, laziness, sin and ungodliness to creep into their lives and hinder their spiritual growth and services for the Lord.
Dear friend, you may be a church preacher, leader, Sunday school teacher or parent. Do you think God would use such a person who goes around telling others to run the Christian race faithfully but then he himself has no desire, passion and commitment (does not run to win), or he allows worldliness to creep into his life (does not run with self-control), or he just wants the applause of men and accolades of the world (does not run to obtain an incorruptible crown), or he just wants to be approved by men (does not run to be approved by God). Most certainly such a person would not be used by God, right?
If you are a truly born-again believer, you have entered into the Christian race. It is not good enough just to run the race; you have to run to win, with self-control, to obtain an incorruptible crown, and to be approved by God. This is the only right way we should live our Christian lives!
With love in Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng
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