Striveth for the Mastery (1 Corinthians 9:25)

2022-07-02

I was a competitive swimmer for 13 years. A lot of interesting analogies came out of this experience. At my peak, swimming was the drive for everything in my life. The training was severe, with five-hour days, six days a week, and an “easier” day of 2 and a half hours on Sunday. There were times we swam dragging five-gallon buckets behind us, or we used swimming suits with pockets, or we swam wearing shirts and shoes. We would tread water holding medicine balls over our heads. To survive this and school, some manner of discipline was needed.

How much more is this thinking appropriate for the Christian life? “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Corinthians 9:25). We cannot be distracted with anything, or the mission gets derailed.

In the Christian life, things do not magically happen. There is an intentional mindset that is required. Instead of medicine balls and buckets, there is study in the Word to prepare for Christian service. This is a regular part of your experience that is planned and habitual. “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26).

Moreover, our flesh screams out lies to us constantly. The desires of the flesh try to guide us another way, whether it be by sin, or by doing something that is good but a distraction from what the Spirit calls us to do. “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Without intentionality and self-control, we waste our lives on things that are not for Jesus Christ.