Run so that you may obtain

 

Trust Maanda
Looking at the unseen

 

1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27 KJV

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?

 

So run, that ye may obtain.

 

[25] 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.

 

[26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

 

[27] 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.

Paul uses the analogy of athletics.

In a race, many begin the race, but only one wins the prize for coming first.

 

When an athlete participates in a race, he or she runs with an intention to win the race. In order to win, an athlete has to out everything to the race.

The Scripture is admonishing that when we run, we should put every effort in order to win the prize.

 

No one runs a race just for the sake of running.

 

It is with an objective to win the prize.

But there is a price to pay in order to get the prize.

 

The prize has a price.

A man who wants a prize strives for masteries.

 

Mastery refers to having great skill at or total dominance over something.

 

He strives to become good at the game.

To get a prize, there is effort that is put behind the scenes in preparation of the big match.

 

To get the expertise in anything, there is hard work put into it.

The battle is won before the battle.

 

Passing an examination is not done in the exam room.

 

A lot of study goes into it.

 

An exam may be for three hours but the reading for the exam may be for years.

A boxing match lasts three minutes per each round of 12, but the training for the boxing is for months.

 

You do not sleep around on the eve of boxing.

 

I am told a professional boxer typically trains for four to 12 months before a professional match.

Mike Tyson’s shortest professional boxing match was against Marvis Frazier.

 

It lasted only 30 seconds.

 

He had trained more than he had to fight.

Success is the culmination of many sleepless nights and early mornings.

If you want mastery or skill in any area, you must be temperate in all things.

 

To be temperate is to be calm and controlled.

 

You don’t do things to impress.

 

You refrain from reckless living.

 

Be disciplined if you want to achieve mastery.

 

Make choices and form habits that will get you to your goals.

 

If you want to participate in a beauty pageant, you do not do anything that damages your skin or put your body out of shape, unless you want to win the Mr Ugly contest.

Mahomed Ali, Mike Tyson and any other professional boxing champion trained harder than they fought.

 

They got more punishment in training than they received from their opponents in the boxing ring.

Usain Bolt trained months and months to run a few seconds and get the prize. Mastery is earned, not received.

If you want to obtain a university degree, study.

 

If you want to win a football match, train hard. Stop smoking and hurting your lungs if you want to get the prize in athletics.

Paul said those who strive for masteries do so to obtain a corruptible crown, but Christians fight to obtain an incorruptible inheritance.

As athletes keep their bodies in check by dieting and training, so should Christians keep their bodies under subjection.

Paul says he ran, not aimlessly like one who beats against the air.

 

He was deliberate and intentional about his actions.

 

He was poised for and set his eyes on heaven.

 

He would not do what would not be conducive for victory.

 

We should keep our bodies under.

 

We should starve the flesh of its desires, to obtain a crown.

 

We should shun and flee from the very appearance of evil. We have a prize to win.

Discipline is the price of the prize.

Harness your thoughts and actions and channel them towards what you want to achieve.

 

You must keep track of your time and adjust your habits. Run as someone who wants to obtain a prize.

 

Do not be aimless.

 

Do not wander.

It was Evangelist AA Allen who wrote the book “The Price Of God’s Miracle Working Power”.

To get His power, there is a price to pay.

 

To achieve prowess in any field, you have to exert yourself.

Strive for masteries. Be disciplined. Be temperate in all things. Run so that you may obtain the prize.

 

Trust Maanda is a gospel preacher and transformational speaker. He writes in his personal capacity. He can be contacted on +263772432646.