Qualified Or Disqualified?

Serving – February 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Qualified Or Disqualified?

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. —1 Corinthians 9:19-27NKJV

The apostle Paul wrote these words in relation to himself. He was free from all men but made himself a servant of all. No one was forcing him. Instead, he chose to take this step to bring people to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, in his evangelistic efforts, became like the people he sought to win for Christ. To the Jews, those under the law, he became as a Jew, even though he was not perfect in keeping the law. As to the true law, given by God to Moses, only the Lord Jesus met all its demands in perfection. The apostle became like the Gentiles, too, but he was not lawless as some suppose. Paul remained qualified before God and “under law toward Christ.”

Individuals and gatherings of Christians today, in their efforts to win people, are often seen leaving the truth of Scripture for what God clearly calls “sin.” It is wrong to sin or join in someone’s sinfulness. In such things, the name of the Lord is dishonored and a person or work becomes disqualified until confession is made (1 Jn. 1:9).

“Weak,” in our portion in 1 Corinthians, is simply being without a lot of strength. Paul, the powerful servant of God, had “become all things to all men, that [he] might by all means save some.” What a wonderful statement. To what length would I go in order to bring someone to salvation in Christ? We note that not all were saved, only “some.” But “some” had new life in Christ! May we work like Paul “for the gospel’s sake.”

The apostle continued by presenting an analogy about running a race. Have you ever seen a top-rated runner compete as if he did not care whether he won or lost? Probably not, for they run with great focus and effort, straining to break the ribbon and get the prize. We find this analogy in other epistles too. In Philippians 3:14 Paul wrote: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 12:1-2 encourages us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”

Back in 1 Corinthians 9, Paul spoke of being “temperate in all things.” This means to be self-restrained or moderate, not excessive. Without this, we get sluggish and cannot run well, which would be in contrast to the picture presented here through the apostle.

In the day when Paul lived, runners received a wreath as a prize, but we will win an “imperishable crown” – one that lasts forever. It will be a joy to cast this crown at the feet of our Savior (Rev. 4:10-11) and to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mt. 25:21). Think, too, of what it will be to recognize those in heaven with whom we have shared the gospel and believed!

Paul wrote about not beating the air (1 Cor. 9:26). We want to make our time count for God and not just please ourselves. Training is necessary, and we must act for Him.

Paul closed with the importance of bringing our body into subjection. This is a matter of self-control. It is interesting to note that “self control” is part of the fruit of the Spirit, who dwells in us believers (Gal. 5:22-23; 1 Cor. 6:19). I must take this to heart for I don’t want to be disqualified by my actions. How important it is to speak the Word of God and live in a right way before Him.

By Curt Darling