Do you have the fever yet?
No, not the flu!
Do you have Olympic fever, yet?
August 13th marks the beginning of Olympic competitions in Athens, Greece! 10,500 athletes from 202 nations will be gathering for the games. Upwards of a couple million will travel to watch the contests. Amazingly, the number of people who will tune-in to any part of the TV coverage is predicted to reach 3.5 billion. It would be an understatement to say that the Olympics is a big deal!
Back in ancient history, the Olympics were a big deal! The ancient Olympic Games, part of a major religious festival honoring Zeus, the chief Greek god, were the biggest events in the ancient world. The ancient Olympics were rather different from the modern Games in the following ways -
There were fewer events (a half dozen sports compared to the 28 sports of today).
Only free men who spoke Greek could compete. However, Greek was the common language of much of the ancient world so athletes from different parts of the Mediterranean world were represented. Thus, the games were still the familiar scene of political rivalries between people from different parts of the Greek world, and the site of controversies, boasts and humiliations.
The ancient games were always held at Olympia instead of moving around to different sites as today. The Olympic festival brought huge numbers of visitors to Olympia. Most people slept outside, under the stars, although the wealthy and members of official delegations erected elaborate tents and pavilions. Merchants, craftsmen, and food vendors arrived to sell their wares. The busy schedule included religious ceremonies, including sacrifices; speeches by well-known philosophers; poetry recitals; parades; banquets; and victory celebrations.
No medals were given to the winners. Rather, the victor received a crown or wreath made from olive leaves, and was entitled to have a statue of himself set up at Olympia.
However, like today, winning athletes were heroes who put their home towns on the map. Although he did not receive money at the Olympics, the victor was treated much like a modern sports celebrity by his home city because his success increased the fame and reputation of his community in the Greek world. Their hometowns might reward them with free meals for the rest of their lives, cash, tax breaks, front-row seats at the theater and other public festivals, honorary appointments, or prestigious leadership positions in the community. The victors were memorialized in statues and also in victory odes, commissioned from famous poets. Their names became known in every household.
Yes, the Olympics were a big deal back then even as much as they are today. They even caught the attention of the Apostle Paul. He refers to the Olympic games in a few of his letters and, in one notable passage, mentions two of the sports that were part of the Olympic competition in his day - Running and Boxing.
1 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.”
I am not much of a boxing fan but I do enjoy watching the oldest of Olympic sports - running. In addition to this passage, there are several other passages wherein Paul likens our Christian vocation as a long-distance Olympic race. Today, lets examine some of those passages and see what lessons we can draw from the Olympic contest.
1. Not all runners win the race (1 Corinthians 9:24).
The first lesson we can learn is that not all runners win the prize. In the final competition, just one receives the victory wreath or today’s gold medal.
Sadly, most people do not even make it to the starting blocks because they have no interest in entering the great race. They want to walk entirely their own path in life. However, Jesus implores, in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Jesus beckons us to be among the few who enter the race. He calls us to the race track through the Gospel.
And there are those who obey the Gospel and start the Christian race toward Heaven and they do gloriously reach the finish line and await to be rewarded. But, sadly, there are those who obey the Gospel call and start the Christian race toward Heaven… but fail to reach the prize. They begin well, but do not make a good finish.
Why do some win and some lose the race? What factors lead to success and failure? Christians succeed or fail to reach the finish line and receive the prize for the very same reasons that athletes do not win their earthly races.
2. Winners abide by the rules (2 Timothy 2:5).
2 Timothy 2:5, “If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.” In the ancient Olympic games, there were far fewer rules to be followed in the competitions than there are now; nonetheless, there were rules to be followed.
First, there are rules for entry. Today, there are many who start running without complying with the race’s entry requirements. They believe in Jesus as their Savior but do not listen and obey Him by repenting of their sins, verbally confessing their belief that He is the Son of God and submitting to baptism for the forgiveness of their sins. These entry rules are clearly set down by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures and must be followed to qualify for the race.
But, the entrance rules are not the only rules to be observed. There are rules that govern the actually running of the race. Every Christian wants to go to Heaven but it seems fewer and fewer want to hear about the rules one must follow to get there.
Please understand that I am not saying that one can earn their way to Heaven by obedience. Our salvation relies entirely upon God’s grace. However, Paul says in Titus 2:11-13, that “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvations to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
Thus, we see that grace instructs us that there are rules to be followed in order to please the Lord, the Judge of the contest. Paul says in Philippians 2:12, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
Jesus presents what will be the tragic scene at the finish line for those who run the race but who ignored the rules and regulations - in Matthew 7:21-23, “"Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that Day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”
If we are going to reach the finish and receive the prize, we must be willing to follow the rules. We must be willing to obey the commandments of our Lord and His Apostles found in the New Testament. And that leads to our next point.
3. Winners enter the race mentally and spiritually prepared.
When you hear Olympic class athletes interviewed, you will hear them all say that at the beginning there was a stage - a moment in time - when they sat down and soberly considered the personal cost required in becoming an Olympic class runner. After talking to coaches, personal trainers and - sometimes - former Olympic athletes, they did deep soul-searching and considered whether or not the Olympic competition and the chance at glory was worth the price they would have to pay.
In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus told those who might think to enter into the Christian race that they better first count the cost. To reach glory, it will require tremendous personal sacrifices. It requires continual and complete denial of self. It is the complete surrendering of one’s life to the one object of successfully racing to victory.
Paul reveals the required attitude at the race’s start. Philippians 3:7-11, “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him,… that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Paul counted the cost and decided that the race and its reward surpassed anything he might gain otherwise in this life. Everything else offered in this life was rubbish in comparison. Thus, he was prepared for the future sacrifices required.
4. Winners develop the discipline of self-control.
After understanding that there are rules to be followed and we have a willingness to make any sacrifice to reach the goal, the third key ingredient in the recipe for success - for the athlete and the Christian - is developing and practicing the discipline of self control. 1 Corinthians 9:25, “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.”
The importance of this trait is so great that I will devote the remainder of my comments to it.
The reason I have respect for the Olympic athlete is because I know somewhat of the unbelievable amount of personal discipline and self-control they have had to practice daily for years. Every day they had to perform vigorous physical exercises and an increasingly difficult running regimen. Every day they had to adhere to a special diet to enhance strength and vitality. They had to stay away from junk food. Every night they had to ensure adequate rest for mind and body. They had to abstain from any vice that might deplete the body’s well-being. There social circle was pretty much confined to those who were assisting them in their preparation or those who were preparing like themselves. They could not engage in any activities or projects that might side-track them from their one focus and goal. Everything - for years - centered on making them ready for the race and ready to win.
The need for personal self-control and discipline is absolutely necessary for the Christian race. There is always something in life and in this world that will distract you if you let it. There are temptations to turn aside… temptations to give up… temptations to sit back and let life go on and enjoy yourself.
Surrendering to those temptations will sabotage your Christian effectiveness in reaching the prize. That’s what Paul is talking about. And so he says we need self-discipline, we need self-control. Paul is not the only one to tell us of the need for self-control. The Apostle Peter lists it in 2 Peter 1:5-6 as one of the eight necessary ‘Christian virtues’.
We need self-control because, in Christianity, we don’t have someone else imposing control on us. We don’t have anybody telling us what we have to do to live the Christian life and forcing us to do it. By that I mean - I don’t have anybody telling me how many hours a week I have to read my Bible.... or anybody making me attend all the worship services.... or anybody telling me how many hours a week I ought to pray.... or anybody making me invite so many neighbors to worship.... or anybody telling me how much I have to give to the Lord.... or anybody telling me I can’t watch a certain TV show or movie or listen to certain musical garbage.... or anybody making me visit those who are sick or lonely….or anyone telling me how often to spread the Gospel. There’s only one thing that will keep me doing all these things, and that one thing is my own self-control and self-discipline. And it takes a lot more character to have the self-discipline to do something on your own than it does to be told what to do, when to do it and how to do it.
Its been said, "Only the disciplined ever get really good at anything."
The Christian life is no different. The church is filled with people who would love to be mature Christians with a tremendous knowledge of God’s Word. But they’re not willing to pay the price to achieve it. I think it was the late brother Gus Nichols that a Christian spoke with and said, "I’d give my life to know the Bible like you do." To which brother Nichols replied, "That’s what it took." A lifetime of study and dedication.
Many people have ambitions that will never be realized, goals that will never be reached, visions that will never materialize simply because they have no discipline. One can have all the natural ability or talent in the world but it will be worthless unless discipline is exercised to develop it and use it. The world is full of naturally brilliant people who will never be anything more than ordinary because they aren’t willing to make the sacrifice necessary to become great. And the church is full of people like that, too.
We need self-discipline in every aspect of our Christian lives. Let’s look at a few areas in which we need to exercise self-control and discipline:
A. We need to discipline our minds, to train ourselves to think.
You say, "Well, I already think."
Yes, but what is the content of your thoughts? What is the basis of your thinking? According to what values and standards to you build your attitudes and judgments.
Paul says, in 2 Corinthians 10:5, that we are to take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” That means, that our thoughts are to be the thoughts that would be in line with the mind-set of Christ. Our attitudes, reasonings and point of view are consistent with the principles of His teachings.
You heard of the WWJD - “What Would Jesus Do”. Before we apply the WWJD, we need to apply the WWJT - “What Would Jesus Think”. What attitude would Jesus have toward this situation or person? What would Jesus’ point of view be on this or that issue. What reasoning would Jesus use in this circumstance to arrive at a conclusion or judgment?
It requires self-control to ask ourselves these questions through-out our day. It requires discipline to develop this pattern of thinking. Paul says in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
How can we answer these questions if we don’t know anything about Jesus and the principles of His teachings. We are required to read and study about our Lord to learn of His thoughts, attitudes, reasonings and points of view. We must “let the word of Christ dwell [in us] richly (Colossians 3:16).”
B. We need to discipline our appetites.
Philippians 3:18-19, “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.”
Notice that Paul speaks of those “whose god is their appetite”. What does he mean? Their life consists of serving and satisfying their fleshly, worldly desires. Rather than deny self, the serve and pamper and indulge themselves. Their appetites, desires and passions rule their lives.
Paul was very concerned about that in his own life. Returning to our 1 Corinthians 9:27, he said “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified (NKJ).” The NASV renders “bring in into submission” as “make it my slave.”
Most of us, when we become Christians, are slaves to our fleshly desires and passions. A list of such is found in Galatians 5:19-21, “the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” We live in a day of addictions - food, sugar, nicotine, alcohol, drugs (both illegal and prescribed) sex, gambling and the list goes on.
We are to allow none of these things to master us but conquer our addictions and patterns of habit and bring our passions under the control of the Holy Spirit of God. Romans 8:12-13, “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh - for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Galatians 5:16-17, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”
With the help of the Holy Spirit, we must subdue our appetites and passions and addictions. This requires discipline and self-control.
C. We also need to discipline our speech.
No matter how self-controlled you are, if you haven’t bridled your tongue, you’ve still got a way to go. James 1:26, "If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.”
You may have a disciplined mind, a disciplined body, a disciplined will, even disciplined appetites, but a loose tongue will get you in a lot of trouble. James also said, "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body." (James 3:2). Whether the problem is swearing, using God’s name in vain, lying or gossip, the solution is self-discipline.
Some people pride themselves on their frankness. "I just say what I think." But, according to the Bible, that’s what a fool does. "A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back." (Proverbs 29:11).
Frankness is a virtue when it is coupled with discipline. It often requires a great deal more discipline to refrain from speaking at all.
But, God does not really want silence. He wants us to use our speech to bless each other. Ephesians 4:29, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
Lastly…
D. We need discipline in arranging our priorities.
The problem here is not understanding what is most important. I think all of us as Christians recognize that God and His church and our spiritual growth should hold first place in our lives. We all perhaps remember the words of Jesus: "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33).
Without hesitation, we would all agree that heaven is infinitely more important than earth, that people are more important than things, that developing our mind and character is more important than entertainment, that being busy for the Lord is better than doing nothing, that soul-winning is the greatest task we can work at, that righteousness is more important than popularity. When confronted with those simple alternatives, we know which one to approve. We would say, "Yes, these are the values that are important to me."
The problem isn’t knowledge. The problem is actually giving first place to these values in practical daily living -- and that is a matter of self-discipline.
Day by day, we select the things that are most important to us. The problem is that were confronted by so many things that will take up our time, our money, our talents. And we’ve got to select. We can’t participate in every good work, so we’ve got to choose. We can’t give to everything and everybody, so we’ve got to choose. We can’t attend ball games and school meetings and church activities all at the same time, so we’ve got to choose. We can’t read everything, so we’ve got to choose.
Our maturity as Christians will be determined exactly and entirely by our skill in selecting. If we’re determined to "major in minors", if we show a "first-rate dedication to second-rate causes", then we’re never going to mature as a child of God.
Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore…let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Focus on the phrase “lay aside every encumbrance…which so easily entangles us.” Paul alludes to a practice of Greek athletes in preparing for the Olympics. He knew that Olympic runners would train with weights. The runners would put on weights when they ran to build leg strength and endurance. But, when it came time to actually race, they would remove the weights and their running was a breeze.
And so this passage in Hebrews is telling us to get rid of those things that are holding us back from what God would have to be and have us to do. They may be things that are not wrong in themselves, but they rob us to much of our time and energy that could be better devoted to spiritual pursuits. We must shed those things that slow our progress.
If we’re ever going to mature as Christians, we’ve got to learn the power of self-discipline. I could preach all day long about attending worship services, studying your Bible, prayer, teaching the lost, seeing to the needs of one another, getting involved in the work of the church, and countless other things that we need to be doing as Christians. But it wouldn’t do a bit of good until we develop the self-discipline needed to do those things.
To develop the self-discipline we need is going to take a great desire on our part to want to change what needs to be changed, a will-power to see it through, and the power that God offers us through his Son Jesus Christ.
A great Olympic marathon race… Paul sees life this way. Let’s run that race together and help each to win. I pray that the day we part from this life, we can say as Paul did in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, “the time of my departure has come….I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.”
