“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV
Reflection: what are you chasing to win?
Not many things in life actually matter. But to identify what those are, and to really fight for those, might take a long time to figure out. Because there are so many worthless things that try to get and to keep our attention. Take work and career, for instance. When we are young, we might fight to get ahead in school, to get an education, and our first job. It is often with huge commitments in time, energy and money to get to this point. But you might discover that the work and to build an actual career is something very different than what you learned in school. So, you go back to training, perhaps even more education. After years of investing yourself into this, fighting to get ahead, you get your first promotion. You feel good, finally on the road to fulfilling your dreams. Only to discover that this doesn’t satisfy, there are higher level positions you want to achieve. So you work even harder.
As you are busy building your career, suddenly you get the news that something happened to one of your kids. They are in the hospital fighting for their lives. And, at that moment, you realize that you have been spending almost all your time, all your energy, building a career, making more money, but only giving “leftovers” of yourself to your family. Not even have had much time for God, other than a Sunday service now and then. What was it all for, anyway? To get a bigger house? A new car? To satisfy a personal goal? To be able to brag to friends?
Paul warns the church in Corinth that we are all in a race in life. Chasing something. And only you know what that is for you. It might be something you never shared with anyone. A dream you had as a child. Or to be like someone you admire. Perhaps to leave a legacy with your name, somehow. Whatever it is, we should ask ourselves whether it is the right race we are in. If we are focused on things of the world, Paul reminded us that “this world in its present form is passing away.” 1 Corinthians 7:31b NIV. Then Paul says “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9:25 NIV
A crown that will last forever.
It is not of this world, it is of the eternal kingdom of God. So what does this mean, practically speaking? Let’s look at a familiar story, which explains it pretty well. “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”” Luke 10:38-42 NIV
Few things are needed. Are you in the right race? Are you chasing the right few things that actually matter?