We now come to Paul's explanation of why he happily gives up his rights. Please read today’s passage:
“When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. 24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified”
1 Corinthians 9:22-27
Question 1. According to 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, why does Paul lay down his rights, gladly giving up his freedoms?
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Paul wanted to win the race! For this reason, he looked for common ground with everyone, becoming all things to all people so that he might win some to Christ.
He described the Christian life as running a race, the purpose of which is to win an eternal prize. He states that "everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize." Paul "ran" to win and encouraged all believers to do the same. To be a winner of an eternal prize, we must "run to win" (verse 24), "run with purpose in every step" (verse 26), "discipline my body," and "train it to do what it should" (verse 27).
Paul's summary is this: "I do everything to spread the good news, and share in its blessings" (verse 23). He lived to spread the gospel, knowing he would benefit from it.
Paul got this singular focus from watching Jesus, who lived His life with His eyes focused on the cross, whose every step intentionally propelled Him forward toward the cross, where He would honor His Father by laying down His life.
Notice that there are two ways to share in the blessings of the gospel: first, we receive it, and second, we share it.
To receive the gospel ourselves brings so many blessings to our lives. We receive forgiveness of every sin, right standing with God, freedom from the curse of the Law, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the experience of abundant life now, and eternal life to come, to name a few.
And miraculously, the gospel is such that we enjoy it even more when sharing it with others. When we share the good news of Christ's death and resurrection for our sins, we get to see others experience the same blessings we enjoy and see God's kingdom increase and spread.
All believers can have a double blessing through the gospel, one by receiving it and the second by sharing it.
Finally, there is one thing that Paul does not want to happen. He does not want to be "disqualified" after preaching to others (verse 27). In context, he does not let his body dominate him, does not allow his flesh to get out of control but rather "I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should."
People who take the gospel seriously must not allow their flesh to overpower them, their body to get the upper hand, nor live in the lusts of their flesh. We are to "sow to the Spirit" (spend time cultivating spiritual growth) rather than "sowing to the flesh."
“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit”
Galatians 6:7-8
Question 3. What has this passage encouraged you to do in order to live and grow in the gospel? Please share.
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