Run the race to win

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours. Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive the crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither." 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

We are all "running in the race" of life and we are to run this race to win. It is important to note that this verse is not talking about Christians competing against each other to "do the Christian life" better than the other, and therefore beat them and win the race. We are not competing against each other. How does this make sense in the light of the verse that shows us that we need to run to win the race?

What Paul in saying here is that we are to "run the race of life" in our true identity. Once someone believes in Jesus they are born again and placed "In Christ." Jesus Christ won the race of life and we are to be as He is in this world. So "running the race of life" to win, means living life in the reality of the victory of Jesus. We are victorious and will win. Paul isn't saying that we will not win. He is telling us to live in that victory. Live in the light of the victory of Jesus, refuse to live in any other reality than that of Christ's victory. This is how we will make the prize ours. Jesus won the race and received the prize, we are In Christ, let us then live our lives reflecting this reality.

In view of this, competing against other Christians, to be the best Christian looks rather dumb. Even comparing ourselves to where we perceive other Christians to be on some sort of ranking scale that we have created in our own minds is dumb. Maybe no one else has done this but i have. The truth is that we actually run in victory when God works through us to bring more people into this victory. It's not competition, but community. We can only keep what we give away. The more we give to God and to His creation, the more we will find that we have.

How do we run in the reality of Christ's victory? We love. Not with human love that says I'll love you if you love me, but with God love that says I'll love you no matter what, even if you hate me. This love is not earned, it is not words only, it's not an emotion, not for a special few, and it is not an option. It is God's character pouring out of those who believe in Him, active, and part of our redeemed character. It confronts evil, defends the weak, and is the most attractive thing in the world. We run the race to win when we love. We will receive an eternal reward for everything done in God-love. We can only keep what we give away, and the more we give the more we will find that we have.