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Today's Pathway: I Corinthians 9:24-25 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 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.

Paul has been dealing with the idea of the Christian being willing to give up his rights in order to reach others for Christ. He concludes this section by giving a physical illustration to show the value of spiritual self-denial. He reminds them that when a race is run, all the contestants are involved in it, but only one can be declared the winner. This was easily understood by the Corinthians because the Isthmian Games, which were similar to the Olympic games, were held just outside their city. Obviously, the goal of any runner who enters a race is to receive the winner's trophy. Paul instructs the Corinthians that they should be running their spiritual race in order to receive the prize, or crown, that God would give them. It should be understood that in the spiritual realm more than one person can obtain the prize. There are different crowns that are mentioned in the New Testament, and none of these are limited to only one individual. However, I think it is worth noting that Paul tells the Corinthians that they should be running their race as if there could be only one winner. He does not want them to be satisfied with a "participation trophy" - he wants them to be the best that they can be for the Lord.

In verse 25 he says that any runner who wants to be victorious has to have self-control ("temperate"). If a man wants to win the 100 meter dash at the Olympics, he has to have a large measure of self-discipline. He has to watch what he eats. He has to get plenty of rest. He has to exercise and train. He can't always get to do what he wants to do. It may not be a sin to eat some donuts, but if he does it right before the race it might hinder his chance of winning. It is not a sin to stay up late at night, but to do so the night before the race is not a good idea. Therefore, in order to be the best athlete he can be, he must deprive himself of some of his liberties. And, as we all know, there are men and women who do exactly that in hopes of winning Olympic gold, or the Heisman Trophy, or a Super Bowl ring. While these trophies are prestigious, they are also corruptible. Gold medals tarnish. Super Bowl rings have been lost or stolen. The Heisman Trophy was once auctioned off to pay the winner's debts. These awards do not last, but Paul writes that the prize given by God does not corrupt. Jesus advised His followers to,

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matthew 6:19-20),

The Bible speaks of several different crowns that Christians can receive. I Thessalonians 2:19 mentions a "crown of rejoicing", which seems to be given to those who have been winning others to Christ. II Timothy 4:8 speaks of the "crown of righteousness" which Paul says is given to "all them also that love his appearing". James 1:12 says,

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

If you stood before God today, would you receive the prize?