1 Corinthians 9:24-27 – Be winsome but exercise self-discipline

In saying that he would be all things to all men, Paul faced the accusation of being a compromiser. He could be seen as one who did not have a firm conviction and that he swayed with the wind. These last few verses of chapter 9 answer the accusation that he was wishy-washy. Paul stoutly maintained that he disciplined himself rigidly. Though he was flexible, he exercised self-control steadfastly.

 

Using the analogy of an athlete he assured the Corinthians that he did not conduct his life aimlessly and neither was he complacent nor uncommitted. Paul was well aware that like in a race, all may run but there could only be one winner who would receive the prize. So one needs to have a winning attitude. Like athletes training and competing in a race, the Corinthians were exhorted to exercise self-discipline and self-control in all things. While athletes would compete for a winner’s laurel that would perish, the Christians compete to win an imperishable crown. Practically, for Christians to mix with people of all kinds of life régime, they need to know what they stood for and be decisive in differentiating spiritual matters.

 

Seeing himself as one of the athletes, Paul assured the Corinthians that he was not aimless but was competing in the race of life according to the God-given rules in view. If not, he would find himself disqualified. He could relate with the people but he would never allow any of them to turn him into another person morally. Paul accepted that to mix with others would open up avenues of temptations, so he rigidly exercised control to put his body under self-mastery. While he was aware that in mixing with others, he could be lured by temptation and fall into sin, yet he refused to be a hermit. He would mix with them to reach them, yet at the same time exercise strict training to ensure a mastery over his body, to reflect Christ’s Lordship over his life. Paul certainly didn’t want to end up in a situation where he had worked so hard to reach others for Christ, only to find himself disqualified for reward of eternity.

 

Reaching others we must, accepting their loose moral we mustn’t! But how can we reach them without mixing with them? And how can we mix with them without being influenced to compromise on our Christian standards? The answer lies in cultivating a self-disciplined life where sin cannot have mastery over our life. It is placing the Lordship of Christ first, over each and everything in our life regime. It’s a life of disciple where one denies himself, takes up his cross daily and follows after the Lord.