Epiphany 5: Epistle, 1 Corinthians 9:16-27               

1 Corinthians 9:16-27

This week’s epistle reading is one of those that is challenging to get a hold of. The whole of it I mean. The two main sections within the reading are related but each stands alone with enough matter to deal with singly. So I’m focusing on the later section, vv. 24-27. I hope that’s alright with you. Paul has closed a section where he writes of his willingness, not to make concessions to differing worldviews (a mistake the church has made often in the past thirty-plus years), but to declare the ability of the gospel to invade and conquer them by grace. He now moves ahead to assure the believers in Corinth that whomever they encounter, the work of the gospel is just that: work.

The ministry, including preparation, takes effort. And no great fruit is ever produced by a “let’s just sit around and watch things take care of themselves” attitude. That’s not to deny that all the work is truly in the hands of the Lord and that His Word is the change agent He utilizes to convict, convert and finally bring His kingdom. What it does mean is that we should look at our task in the gospel as a race. Our race, as in the Olympics, takes disciplined preparation, sacrifice, and the willingness to endure pain for the sake of the prize. And we dare not forget, there is indeed a prize. An enduring prize (v.25).

Paul makes several important points. First, we must run with a mind to win (v.24b). In fact, for the believer, ultimate failure is not an option. Oh there may well be disappointments and temporary defeats along the way. But final defeat isn’t even on the table. Next is self-control (v. 25). This is a great difficulty in our age and society. We are an immensely self-indulgent people with great appetites and virtually unlimited resources to fill them. And Paul adds a new figure to strengthen our resolve by bringing the fighting ring into the mix. “Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection …” (9:26-27, NKJV).

Can I make a confession here? I’m not particularly good at any of this. Now I’m a musician and not an athlete to be sure. But excellence in my craft takes just as much discipline and even today at almost sixty and after nearly fifty years of playing, I still need to do things regularly to “stay in shape.” Discipline, pain, deprivation, repeat. That is ours in this blessed task. And the prize is worth the effort.