Unity: A Study in 1 CorinthiansNäide

What does it say?

Paul gave up his personal rights and freedoms for the sake of the gospel.

What does it mean?

Paul’s life could be summed up in one phrase: preach the gospel of Jesus. Nothing else held any fascination for him. Paul disciplined his mind and body like a world-class athlete for the race before him. He understood that discipline often means giving up something good to attain what’s best. Paul’s desire for others to know Christ was greater than his personal desires. His life is an example of dying to self and living for the approval of Christ alone. The result is an everlasting crown to place at Jesus’ feet.

How should I respond?

Being an Olympic athlete takes discipline and focus. Athletes deny themselves anything that would take their focus from their goal to win the race. The Christian life can be compared to an athlete in training. God has laid out a “race” for you. If anything else commands your focus, you’ll get off course. What area of your life needs to be more disciplined? Where do you need to give up a good thing to gain the best things? Willingness to give up your own rights opens the door to seeing people as Paul did. Run your race for an audience of one: Jesus Christ!