Competing In The Game

by Chris Simmons

Many of us watch the Olympics every four years and become inspired by the stories of those who have devoted every aspect of their lives for years upon years just to have the opportunity to compete in the game that they have chosen. We ought to be impressed by the daily sacrifices and consistent focus and dedication by these athletes so that they might have the chance at one shining moment. Those who are victorious no doubt have God-given talent, but they are also those who sacrifice the most and who work the hardest. The apostle Paul not only appreciated athletic endeavors and understood what was necessary to succeed in such contests but more importantly he taught the parallel applications of athletic competitions to our spiritual lives. He wrote in I Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

We must focus on the prize. One thing that struck Paul was that athletes who go through all they do to win the prize, do so for something that won’t last but for a little while. The prize for the champions at the Greek Athletic Festival or the Isthmian Festival (held every two years at the Isthmus, about eight miles from, and in full view of, the city of Corinth) was a wreath or a crown made of olive or pine leaves. Paul described it as a “perishable” or “corruptible” prize and at best, would last just a few days. One must realize that even the gold medals won in our modern Olympics, though enduring longer than a wreath, will also perish one day (II Peter 3:10-12). What we are to strive for is described as an “imperishable” prize that will never fade away. Peter described our hope as being one which is “imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away” (I Peter 1:4). The point we must take away from this is that our effort, diligence, discipline, and determination should and must exceed that of the Olympic athlete because of the nature of the prize we aim for – because of what’s at stake. When we compare our efforts to study, pray, worship and serve, does it come anywhere close the training efforts of the Olympic athlete? When we contrast our spiritual discipline and our focus on the goal before us to that of the Olympic athlete, do we see any difference? It is our responsibility to not just run the Christian race, but to run in such a way that we might win. We must keep focused on the spiritual goals before us (Hebrews 12:1-2).

We must run to win. The Greek word for “win” means “to make it your own” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). This is what Paul had in mind when he wrote in Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul took personal responsibility to “press on” so that he could indeed “lay hold” or “win” the prize – to make it his own. Running with anything than all we have to give is simply inadequate. As the expression goes in sports today, we’ve got to leave it all on the field.

We must compete. Spiritually speaking, according to W. E. Vine, the Greek word for “compete” means “to contend perseveringly against opposition … engage in conflict … to strive as in a contest for a prize, straining every nerve to attain the object … put forth every effort.” We don’t run this race unopposed. We must sober mindedly face the truth that our adversary the devil continually seeks to destroy and devour us (I Peter 5:7). We must be continually cognizant of Satan and his schemes and tactics which include: (1) to get us to never begin the race; (2) to get us to quit running if we started or (3) to simply get us to run lackadaisically – no longer putting forth every effort or straining every nerve. An athlete’s first obstacle in his or her competition is in the mind – bringing every thought into captivity of the goal before them. So is the case spiritually. Paul wrote in II Corinthians 10:5 as he addressed the subject of our spiritual warfare that we must be “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” Our thoughts lead to our actions and our ability to faithfully compete.

We must exercise self-control. We are commanded to develop and grow self-control in our lives (II Peter 1:6; Galatians 5:23). Olympic athletes can’t eat whatever they want or do whatever they want (Titus 2:12). They can’t take days off from their training (II Corinthians 4:16). They can’t be distracted (Matthew 13:22; Luke 14:18-22; II Timothy 2:4). They must learn to say no to things that are not wrong in and of themselves (I Corinthians 6:12; 10:23). They must surround themselves with those who support and encourage their training efforts and avoid those who would discourage them (I Corinthians 15:33; I Thessalonians 5:14). There are things they must both flee and pursue (I Timothy 6:11; II Timothy 2:22). They must pay with diligent labor and great personal sacrifice (I Corinthians 15:58; Luke 9:23). As these passages teach, our pursuit of our heavenly goal requires nothing less.

Olympic athletes train and exercise the way they do because they want to. They devote themselves because the reward is worth the cost. They know they have no right to expect the prize without it. We also have no right to expect the crown of life without such daily devotion, dedication, and sacrifice. In contrast to the athletes who have no promise of a gold medal if they do all they can to prepare; we can be assured of heaven if we continually give the Lord all that we have to give.