You can’t expect the Hope Sports Coordinator to read 1 Corinthians 9 and not write about one of the most used verses in the Christian sports world. At the end of chapter 9, we see Paul write about the need for self-discipline in freedom as Christians which is comparable to the self-disciplines of historical athletes. Leading up to verse 24, Paul is writing about the freedom that Christians find in Christ and how although there is freedom to do many things, we also must deny things if they do not glorify God.
Imagine an athlete in your life… they have the freedom to do many things. Athletes have the freedom to eat food, but they may have to deny their desire for a greasy cheeseburger before a big game because they know it would not be helpful to their performance. Or athletes have the freedom to take a day, or week, off from training… but this wouldn’t be beneficial to them in the long run. Athletes have the freedom to do many things, but through discipline, they must deny themselves of things that do not help them or push them, or their team, toward their final goal.
As Christians, although we have the freedom to do many things, we also must act in discipline to deny ourselves of things that do not push us or our brothers and sisters toward the goal of glorifying Christ through the things we do.
Paul writes, “They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” I must say that things that last forever, probably do not come easy. These things may require suffering, leaning into things that are challenging, and standing up for things that are wrong, even if it is hard. The eternal promise of life with Jesus Christ puts the discipline that we endure into perspective.
Questions for reflection:
- What things do you have the freedom to do, but may not glorify God?
- How does the perspective of God’s eternal promise challenge your perspective on discipline?