Message by Larry Thacker Jr from January 12, “How to Be God’s Winner”
In the first letter we have from Paul to the church at Corinth, he addresses a number of issues, among them a question about whether it was acceptable to eat meat that had been part of a sacrifice to an idol. His characteristically lengthy answer appears in 1 Corinthians, Chapters 8-10. It could be summarized, “Yes, but not if it compromises your ultimate objective. That objective in this context is the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ that all may hear and believe, and the promised reward for all who are His. Paul holds himself up for an example. We might think that’s rather arrogant, but it is actually a picture of good discipleship. Every one of us, especially as we mature, should be able to say to those who may look to us, “Do as I do.” If we can’t, it probably means we need to be doing things differently.
He draws a parallel to an athlete competing in the games which were held periodically near the city (1Co 9:24-27.) We can appreciate the same imagery, consider an athlete training for the Olympics. These people are laser focused on their goal. They intend to be the winner. Every aspect of their lives reflect that goal. The runner constantly strives to shave just one more fraction off of his time. He runs every day. He strictly controls his diet. Even sleep must be managed in support of the objective.
That is the kind of focus we should have. In Paul’s day, the prize was a wreath. In mere days it would be shriveled and worthless. Modern metals have a bit more staying power, but sooner or later become little more than trinkets. The reward we run for has eternal value that will never fade, but instead will only grow more wonderful. Only one can win that gold, but all who seek the Lord will find Him.
Knowing this, we should push aside anything that may distract from our mission. Sometimes, these appear helpful on the surface, but subtly divert us from the track we are supposed to be following. This happens because we are chasing the wrong things. We take our cues from the world. We see something we like, and dress it up in Christian clothing to justify our pursuit of it. When we feed the flesh, we fan the flames. If we will seek the Spirit, we will see salvation.