Play By The Rules

I Corinthians 9:24-10:12


We have seen a number of Olympic athletes stripped of their medals in recent years. Some were for using illegal performance enhancing drugs, or for various other rule violations. Even though they outperformed the one who received the medal, they were not allowed to keep it because they broke the rules. The same possibility exists in the Christian realm.

“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.” (I Corinthians 9:24-27)

To win an earthly contest, it is necessary to exercise self control to complete the competition, and to keep within the rules, whatever the sport. Cheating is grounds for disqualification. People learn to meet those rules to earn a title as the best at the sport. They will have to compete again to keep the prize for a second period, and only one individual or team wins the big prize.

As Christians, we are not competing against one another. Everyone who completes the course can receive an award. There are no rewards for not completing the course. To be eligible, it is necessary, not only to do the job, but to do it in accordance with the rules. It would be horrible to disqualify oneself after doing the entire job and earning the reward, yet Paul describes it as a possibility. The word translated “castaway” actually means “unapproved” or “rejected”. I would not loose salvation, but I might well disqualify myself for rewards.

This was what the Children of Israel who came out of Egypt experienced. Everyone had the opportunity to go to the promised land, with all the promised blessings. They all experienced the same problems and blessings along the way, as Paul describes, but not all received the reward.

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (I Corinthians 10:1-12)

Every Israelite had the same opportunity to get to Canaan. They all heard God’s word. They all enjoyed the same food and water and went to the same places. The same cloud and pillar of fire lead every one of them. Some put forth the effort to serve God, while others were focused on the pleasures and problems of the moment. As a result, the majority of them died without getting to the land.

It is a warning to us not to get complacent and think we have it made. We have to continue to follow the rules to the end to win the prize. Don’t let down now.