INTRO: Pastor and I driving Josh football game, notice Shannon running. Thank the Lord that I was not
out there running, but as I began to reflect came to the conclusion that we’re all in a race – the
race of life.
TITLE: The Race of Life
TEXT: I Corinthians 9:24-27 (READ)
I. Race of Life (24a)
A. Race – Paul makes reference to a contest that all are participating in.
1. My example of baseball.
2. Race Paul is talking about is the race of life.
a. Like the Olympics (100 meters, 440, 880, 10,000; high jump, decathlon, swimming events,
bicycling.)
Point: There are many different events in the Olympics with many different athletes, but they have the same goal (winning).
*It’s the same with us (running the race of life). We all want the prize “heaven”.
b. We all are in the race!
1. Some may not think they’re in a race (but they are).
2. Others are headed down the wrong trail.
3. Others are on the sidelines watching.
*Sadly, most are going to be disqualified for breaking the rules!
4. We’re all in the race (different events).
a. God has different plans for each one of our lives (parts of the body)
ex. Farmers, politicians, carpenters, housewives, teachers, etc.
Point: We all need to be faithful in what the Lord has for us!
Illustrate: Fourth century monk, Telemachus, little sort of a man. Spend most of his life teaching and raising a garden to live on. Lived in a small community. Felt led by the Lord to go to Rome, obeyed. Long journey. Found his way to Rome. Shocked at how the people were so angry, violence. Caught up in the mob and before he knew it, in great coliseum, sitting at the top, all the excitement, stunned to see two giants fighting. Started yelling “stop, in God’s name stop.” No one listened, ran down to perimeter yelling, “in God’s name stop.” No good, jumped down in arena. People began to laugh, then got annoyed. Screamed out, “kill him”. Giant killed him. Strange thing happened. The place became silent and everyone began to leave. Last time anyone fought to death in the Roman coliseum. Faithful little man directed by God to be a martyr to stop the senseless killings in Rome.
TS: We need to be faithful like Telemachus and do what the Lord wants, because He will help guide us in this race. Paul is trying to get this message across to the church at Corinth (race).
B. Background of message
1. Corinth population, 500,000, corrupted sea-port city, pagan worship, Aphrodite.
-1,000 female prostitutes.
-Paul started church on second missionary journey. Having problems so Paul is writing this letter to help the Christians.
2. I believe we can use the same principles today to help us with our walk.
TS: We’re all in a race. The next question: How should we run?
II. Run in such a way as to get the prize (24b)
A. Do you very best with what you have.
1. Some get discouraged because they feel God has dealt them an unfair hand.
Ex. Tom Sullivan, Good Morning America, MASH, Airport 77, world-class athlete, two national
championships in wrestling, in the ’58 Olympics, earned a degree at Harvard. Musician, runs 6
miles a day, swims, skydives. Tom is blind, speaks to thousands at conventions around America.
POINT: Tom did not let his disadvantage cripple him from enjoying life!
2. Chuck Swindoll book Living on the Ragged Edge talks about two points:
1. What is your unjust disadvantage (not hangnail).
2. Replace self-pity with active courage.
Ex. Paul and Barnabus in Lystra (Acts 14) take him out and stone him and he returns!
-Jesus teaches us to go the extra mile.
POINT: The impact of how you handle your disadvantage is going to make an impact on the world around you (either positive or negative).
B. Strict training: verse 25 – GK word picture “athletes self-control in dieting and rigorous bodily
discipline.”
1. Verse 27 – beat my body and make it my slave (picture of a boxer fighting with bear knuckles
beating each other black and blue).
a. Paul beats his body black and blue in order to bring it into submission (to be his slave).
Story: young man in ice, survived freezing Atlantic.
QUESTION: Are we preparing ourselves properly so the Lord can use us at anytime? Or, are we living on great victories of the past?
C. Verse 26 – don’t run aimlessly.
1. Like a man beating the air (may look impressive, but it does not amount to much).
Ex. Greatest athlete, academic achievements, even spiritual gifts. Not using the talent for the Lord is a waste. (Paul says like a man beating the air). (End Result)
a. I Corinthians 3:10-15 (READ) says it better.
1. Careful how we build (gold, silver, costly stones) good gifts.
-Wood, hay, straw (bad gifts) glorify self, shown for what it is.
-Quality will be tested.
a. Tested by fire.
1. Survivors will be rewarded.
2. Destroyed will suffer loss.
POINT: Will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames (burning house).
THOUGHT: Going to big celebration and not bringing something (embarrassed).
Need to: 1. Do our best with what we have.
2. Go into strict training.
3. Don’t run aimlessly.
We need to be like Paul in his zeal for the lost (I Cor. 9:19-23) (READ)
b. Paul makes himself a slave to everyone to win the lost.
1. Three groups (Jews, gentile, weak)
Paul becomes like them in order to win them! Does not mean to reach the sinner you have to sin.
-Means you have to take an active part in the person’s life you’re trying to lead to the Lord.
Ex. Husband’s not saved (become interested in his interest) football.
HARD: That’s why Paul says he beats his body black and blue (some might want that).
TS: We need to love them enough to help win them the prize.
III. Only one gets the prize (24b)
A. Christians are the only ones who get the prize.
1. Follower of Christ (someone who has a personal relationship with Jesus).
a. Not followers of Mohammed, Confucius, Hindu, themselves.
Ex. Picture climbing ladder only to find out it’s leaning against the wrong wall.
b. Solomon, son of David.
1. He did great things: built temple of the Lord, built his palace.
-Imported treasures, spices, slaves, exotic animals.
2. Wisest man in the world, 700 wives and 300 concubines, people visiting all the time (Queen
of Sheba).
3. No wars, just peace and prosperity, no enemies.
Lord was blessing Solomon in anything he undertook.
*I believe God blessed Solomon with about everything he wanted in life to show that the only thing that can bring happiness is God.
c. Show us this illusion (living for things, people, or anything else is a waste of time) and it
will never bring lasting happiness and contentment.
Ex. Like climbing the ladder thinking if I only can make it to the next rung, then I will be
happy.
Solomon says it’s like chasing after the wind “useless”.
POINT: He had everything that some would think that (brings happiness), but in reality the wisest man in the world backslid away from God and became very unhappy (read Ecclesiastes). Good News!
Ecc. 12:13-14 end of the book.
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man. For God will bring every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil”.
RSV – The end of the matter; all has been heard, fear God and keep His commands (OT).
-Obedience (NT) brings not only obedience but a relationship with God.
d. Solomon experienced the good life (worldly speaking):
-a lot of money -a lot of women
-a lot of power -a lot of brains
-a lot of parties -a lot of building and beauty
Everything is vanity. All that matters is God and knowing Him!
***God gave us someone who climbed up to the top of many ladders leaning against many wrong walls (Solomon).
-He came to the conclusion God only matters and who am I to argue with the wisest man in the world.
CONCLUSION:
I. Race of Life
A. Paul talks about great race.
B. We’re all in this race.
1. We’re in different events.
C. Paul was trying to encourage the Christians in Corinth.
II. Run in such a way as to get the prize.
A. Do your best. Don’t get discouraged (active courage).
B. Strict training.
C. Don’t run aimlessly.
III. Only one gets the prize.
A. Christians: the only ones.
B. Solomon and his life.
1. Learn that God is the only thing that matters!
