Day 19 — Run to Win

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.”

— 1 Corinthians 9:24–25 (BSB)

Paul liked sports. In his day, the Greek world held huge athletic competitions, a lot like the Olympics. The city of Corinth, where the people Paul was writing to lived, hosted one of the biggest.

So Paul used sports to teach a lesson. “In a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize. Run in such a way as to take the prize.”

Paul isn’t saying competing is bad. He’s saying, Give it everything you’ve got! Don’t jog lazily. Run to win.

Then he points out how hard athletes work. “Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline.” Think about what great athletes do: early-morning practices, eating right, sleeping enough, running drills over and over, and pushing through when they’re tired.

And what did the winners in Paul’s day get? A crown made of leaves, a wreath of pine or celery that would wilt and fall apart within days! They trained for months for a prize that didn’t last.

That’s Paul’s big point: “They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.” Athletes work incredibly hard for prizes that don’t last: trophies that get dusty, medals that go in a drawer, records that someone else eventually breaks. How much more should we give our best for things that last forever: loving God, growing in faith and helping others know Jesus?

This doesn’t mean sports don’t matter. It’s great to work hard, compete and try to win! God made your body, and using it well honors Him. But it does mean keeping sports in the right place. Winning a championship is fun. Knowing God is forever.

So play hard. Practice with discipline. Try to win. And give your faith the same kind of effort, because that’s the race that really counts.

Think about it: What do you work hardest at? How could you give that same effort to growing in your faith?

Try this: Next time you practice or play, give it your full effort. Then give the same effort to one thing that helps you grow in faith, like reading your Bible or praying.

Dear God, help me run the race You’ve given me with everything I’ve got. Help me work hard in sports and school, and even harder in following You. Thank You for the crown that lasts forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.