A COMPETITIVE SPIRIT

1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27 NKJ 
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty.  Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.  

I played competitive sports beginning at around age seven.  Track, swimming, and basketball were good sports for a skinny kid, and I loved playing.  However, I did not like losing and was often a mouthy kid, especially to teammates.  Fast forward a few years, and I decided that me playing competitive sports in any kind of church league was not a good idea.  My overly competitive spirit did not translate well, especially for a Christian in leadership.   

But in this passage, Paul describes a competitive spirit that is actually godly.  The key here is that we are not competing against others.  We are competing against ourselves.   

The mentality Paul presents is that we run our race or our life with God to win.  We are running to receive a reward from our Lord, the One we are running for.  So, we live our Christian life with intentionality.  Paul talks about athletes who are self-controlled in order to win.  He stated that he disciplined his body, not allowing it the freedom to follow its whims and pleasures.  In making his body obey God's word and his heart's leading, Paul would not be disqualified from his race as a preacher.   

Paul used the athletic endeavors of his day as a metaphor for our life with Christ.  The parallels are similar.  We run to win.   

APPLICATION 

This is the best kind of competition.  Not trying to beat others but living a disciplined, focused life so that we might finish our race for the Lord Jesus.   

This attitude can help us develop a competitive spirit to not let our flesh win.  If you are the kind of person who hates to lose at anything, you can channel that energy into running your race for Christ.  Refusing to lose to anger, lust, and selfishness will be a battle, but you have what it takes to win.  Compete to develop your potential in Christ.  One day we will all give an account to Him as to how we ran our race.  Fire up!  Get competitive.  Run to win!   

PRAYER 

Lord, You have called me to run my race and equipped me to win.  Help me fire up that desire to run it the best that I can for You.