Disqualified by a lack of self-discipline
At the end of I Corinthians 9, Paul says,
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 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 incoruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 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 cast away.”
Paul takes on two roles here. He is speaking as the herald at a race (the one who tells the runners the rules before the race begins) and also as a runner. How hypocritical would it be for him to tell every athlete that rules to abide by and then not abide by those same rules when he runs? We all remember those kids at the pick-up games at the park from our childhood. They had a certain set of rules that always seemed to benefit them. How much higher would the ridiculous meter read when that was coming from our pulpits?
We can’t overlook two important words here that tell us something about God’s view of discipline and disqualifications. We would all understand that a false prophet would disqualify himself from Spiritual advancement/leadership/growth/etc. (ie, the Joel Osteens of the world who have chosen to compromise doctrine, the prophetic Word from God, and more in order to be a leader of men – then again, I think someone pretty wise said to be leery if all men speak well of you, see Luke 6.26) Here, Paul adds that his BODY could play a part in his disqualification. He doesn’t say he brings his spirit or soul into subjection – as would seem to make sense. Maybe he doesn’t mention those because they are assumed and logical. What he does expressly mention though, is his body. Those natural appetites that we face daily. While the implications to lustful appetites for power, satisfaction, pleasure, fulfilment, and such are obvious, not to be overlooked are his literal physical appetites. Could Paul be saying that by giving into his actual appetite for food he could be disqualified? In certain ways, I believe so.
To be extremely aesthetic (depriving yourself of enough food to have energy and health to accomplish the tasks under your delegation) would be succumbing to the appetite for glory in your own self-control. To be extremely indulgent, as we all know is always sinful, would be disqualifying as well. How can we teach about stewardship, dedication, worship, adoration, service, witness, evangelism, family, and the like, only to hand ourselves over to that indulgence which opposes them all? Stewardship of our body/lifespan would definitely be an understood issue. Dedication to anything can be called into question with there is a blatant disregard for our own health. Worshipping a God who we say we love and is sovereign is hardly sincere when the true god of our lives is our bellies. We could keep going, but I thing we get the point.
Paul brought his body “under”, it was brought “into subjection”. In other words, his body was like any other tool given him by God to accomplish the task. An out of control hunger for success, acclaim, or exaltation would be vile by any spiritual standards. No one will question that. No different is the master of the stomach. Paul says, “I take those natural hungers that can easily control me, and control them. I take that would would be my master, and make it my slave for the work of the Kingdom.” appetite included. Rather than giving into those fleshy cravings for McDonald’s, maybe we should bring some appetites into subjection and eat that which is nutritious rather than that which is suitable to our hunger-lusts.
(Note: this is for all my friends who wonder why I am so stringent about physical health and fitness…buffness shouldn’t be our goal, health and fitness – ABSOLUTELY.)
moving with a purpose
Why do we move and have no purpose? Would you wake up in the morning three hours earlier than your normal routine requires simply to sit and stare at a wall? Of course you wouldn’t. It makes no more sense to gather as a congregation of Christ-followers and have no clue why, staring at a wall without purpose.
I remember when my wife (then girlfriend) came to visit me at college. There was a concert on campus one night, and this was a big deal for the college where I was. So, she came up to share the experience with me. After the concert, we were hanging at the coffee shop on campus, and had one of those moments. You know the ones I’m talking about. The ones guys try to pretend they don’t remember and ladies never forget. We were staring at each other, kind of rocking back and forth, and looking giddy to any onlookers, I’m sure. When the moment was kind of drawing to a close I said, “tell me what you’re thinking…” to which my wife replied, “I’m trying to tell you.” Now, as your typical 20 year old, I had no clue how to interpret the secret code. So, I asked a friend of mine in the dorms. He said she was telling me to “move with a purpose”. Good advice then, good advice now.
So, as a church, how often do the average visitors to our churches walk away having no clue what the secret code was they just witnessed. Even further, how often do they wonder at the purpose for the movement. Any movement without purpose it utterly dangerous.
