Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9: 24-27

Self-control has probably always been a challenge for most of us, including me and so whenever I think of the topic I return to the passage above where Paul expresses his desire to avoid a lack of self-control and encourages us to follow his example.

Paul’s use of illustrations from the athletic world again tells us of his commitment to communicate to his audience. My study bible indicates that Corinth “was the location of the biennial Isthmian games, at that time second in fame only to the Olympic Games,” so the people in the church were aware of the descriptions. 

We know that successful athletes today are still committed to their training. As we drove to church this morning our grandsons noticed that the Bengals players were on the field preparing for the upcoming NFL season.

Few of us are professional athletes, but we can relate to the idea of self-control. Maybe we have a tendency to lose our temper or we give in too easily to a temptation or maybe it is something altogether different, but to avoid a lack of self-control, Paul insisted that he was intentional in his personal discipline. He didn’t just run in circles or focus on shadow boxing. But there is more than personal discipline for  the follower of Christ. Paul reminded the Galatians (and us) that, “if we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Most of us have areas where we lack discipline, but to avoid just “beating the air” we must be both purposeful in our approach and obedient to the Spirit who lives within us. It is one more step to doing what we all want to do, live a fruitful life.