Christian Living
by Philip du Nard
The title of this article is a reference to a broad subject but I would like to focus on one particular related scripture passage that has, perhaps, not received the attention that it should and that is I Corinthians 9:24-27 which reads, “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. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 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.”
Paul calls attention to athletes who are trying to excel in their sport and win the prize—an Olympic gold medal, perhaps. He tells the Christian to live like that. We’re trying to obtain a prize. Our eternal salvation is not the prize because that is a gift which is not secured through works. He must be referring to the reward of Christian service. And how is this accomplished? Paul continues, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” If an athlete is trying to win an Olympic medal, he or she will not only train for one’s specific event but they will be certain to not eat too much, drink too much, stay up all night partying or doing anything else to excess that will interfere with their training or weaken them in some way. They will try to eat right, maybe take dietary supplements, etc. and do whatever they can to be certain that their bodies are in peak condition.
Paul says, in effect, that he does the same things that they do but for a different reason pursuing a different objective. And he tells believers that they should live the same way: “So run, that ye may obtain.” Because our objective is primarily a spiritual one, serving the Lord, and we think of the Bible as a spiritual book (and it is), we naturally give this analogy a spiritual application and that is not inappropriate. We should be certain to spend time in the Word of God and prayer and be disciplined about this and avoid the sins of the flesh. But I have a thought that Paul is also referring to our physical bodies. He is saying, plain and simple, live somewhat like an athlete. Don’t eat too much, don’t drink too much, but exercise, eat right, live a disciplined lifestyle, take care of your body as best you can. If you let yourself go completely to pot physically, you risk being of less use in the Lord’s service, not to mention the negative example this sets for others to witness.
There are legalistic extremes to be avoided here and we must rightly divide the word of truth in our minds. The reader should not conclude that if one is sick, disabled, or old with a broken down body that the Lord cannot or will not use them in some fashion to His glory. As every Christian should realize, the Lord is not limited by our limitations, physical or otherwise, except perhaps our unbelief. And Paul himself states that God has chosen the weak things of the world and in our weakness, He is made strong. We do not war after the flesh and the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Paul also stated elsewhere that, with respect to our spiritual lives, bodily exercise profiteth little, though he may be including ascetic practices that are not necessarily conducive to good health.
But in the scripture under consideration, Paul is stating a general principle that we should strive to follow, not only as it relates to our spiritual lives but our physical bodies as well.
by Philip du Nard
The title of this article is a reference to a broad subject but I would like to focus on one particular related scripture passage that has, perhaps, not received the attention that it should and that is I Corinthians 9:24-27 which reads, “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. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 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.”
Paul calls attention to athletes who are trying to excel in their sport and win the prize—an Olympic gold medal, perhaps. He tells the Christian to live like that. We’re trying to obtain a prize. Our eternal salvation is not the prize because that is a gift which is not secured through works. He must be referring to the reward of Christian service. And how is this accomplished? Paul continues, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” If an athlete is trying to win an Olympic medal, he or she will not only train for one’s specific event but they will be certain to not eat too much, drink too much, stay up all night partying or doing anything else to excess that will interfere with their training or weaken them in some way. They will try to eat right, maybe take dietary supplements, etc. and do whatever they can to be certain that their bodies are in peak condition.
Paul says, in effect, that he does the same things that they do but for a different reason pursuing a different objective. And he tells believers that they should live the same way: “So run, that ye may obtain.” Because our objective is primarily a spiritual one, serving the Lord, and we think of the Bible as a spiritual book (and it is), we naturally give this analogy a spiritual application and that is not inappropriate. We should be certain to spend time in the Word of God and prayer and be disciplined about this and avoid the sins of the flesh. But I have a thought that Paul is also referring to our physical bodies. He is saying, plain and simple, live somewhat like an athlete. Don’t eat too much, don’t drink too much, but exercise, eat right, live a disciplined lifestyle, take care of your body as best you can. If you let yourself go completely to pot physically, you risk being of less use in the Lord’s service, not to mention the negative example this sets for others to witness.
There are legalistic extremes to be avoided here and we must rightly divide the word of truth in our minds. The reader should not conclude that if one is sick, disabled, or old with a broken down body that the Lord cannot or will not use them in some fashion to His glory. As every Christian should realize, the Lord is not limited by our limitations, physical or otherwise, except perhaps our unbelief. And Paul himself states that God has chosen the weak things of the world and in our weakness, He is made strong. We do not war after the flesh and the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Paul also stated elsewhere that, with respect to our spiritual lives, bodily exercise profiteth little, though he may be including ascetic practices that are not necessarily conducive to good health.
But in the scripture under consideration, Paul is stating a general principle that we should strive to follow, not only as it relates to our spiritual lives but our physical bodies as well.