Primary Lessons

March 6, 2016                        NOTES NOT EDITED

Primary Lessons

1Corinthians 9:24-27

SIS— The Bible gives us clear lessons on how to gain victory in life without losing honor.

My foray into presidential politics, beyond being delegate for George Wallace in a mock election in high school, goes back to Jimmy Carter in 1977.  As he was running for President, I was serving on a nuclear submarine.  I felt an affinity with Carter because he was also a “Brother of the Phin” having qualified in submarines and gained the coveted “dolphins” in 1950.  He was also a Southern Baptist and I would become a Southern Baptist preacher during Carter’s presidency.  That’s where the affinity between us ended.  We differ greatly on most issues, and as of 2015 he is not longer a Southern Baptist.  By most accounts of political historians, Carter was not a great president.  I do believe he had great character.  His humanitarian work, even now as he enters his 90’s won him a Nobel Prize and the admiration of a nation.  Carter possessed something sorely lacking in politicians of late—character.

As one examines the presidential races since Bill Clinton, the issue of “character” has often been a topic of discussion. It became clear during the Clinton years, however, that Americans did not consider character of great value in a president.  Clinton eased into reelection even after his sordid affair with Monica Lewinsky. In fact, a phrase that became a political mantra in politics during that time was, “It’s the economy, stupid!” In other words, people considered a president’s skill in building a strong economy as much more highly valued than personal character.  How ironic is it that Clinton’s wife is leading the Democratic race while struggling to stay ahead of a criminal indictment for mishandling classified documents as the Secretary of State.  Character does seem to matter much in politics these days.

One presidential “front-runner” on the GOP side of the aisle of this election cycle—and I’ll keep him nameless—has been openly vulgar on national T.V. He also openly mocked a person with a physical disability. He has been married three times and filed bankruptcy four times. At least 5 business ventures were total failures, and currently he is being sued for fraud because of a scam involving a “university” he started. Yet, he remains the solid front-runner because people perceive him as a highly successful leader, and he seems to ignite a passion in those who hear him speak.

But, does character count in politics?  Does character count in life in general?  Is there any justification for the prevailing political view, especially on the Republican side, that winning is what really matters?  In other words, “who can beat the Democrat?”  Does winning regardless of how it is accomplished qualify as success?  Or, must “real” victory involve honor, and require “playing by the rules?

Our text this morning teaches us that true success is more than winning. While winning is important in any contest, including the game of life, the Bible teaches that success without righteousness is not true success. The Bible gives us many lessons on how to gain success without losing our honor.  I call these, “Primary Lessons,” and they are the keys to both success in this life, and the next—that is, “real” success.  Let’s READ together our text for this morning: 1Corinthians 9:24-27.

1.  Lesson One:  Run to Win (v24)

Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.

Have you ever heard someone say, “It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game that matters?”  Like most clichés, this one has a note of truth in it, but it takes more than one note to make a symphony.  Something that is partly true is considered, “false.”  We will see that it is definitely true that “how one” plays the game of life is extremely important, but not the only consideration.

Winning, as an objective is highly important and highly valued.  So many Christians struggle in life because their faith is based upon “religious clichés” rather than righteous truths.  Ignorance will make a loser out of you faster than about anything in life.  Notice the words,

“Don’t you know . . .”

This is a phrase Paul uses to introduce a “rhetorical question.”  A rhetorical question does not seek an answer but draws attention to an important fact or issue.  The fact is:  winning is the reason for running in a race.  This is not merely an early morning jog to clear one’s mind.  This is a “stadium” race.  This refers to the Isthmian Games held on the Isthmus (land bridge) of Corinth the year before and the year after the Olympics.  The Isthmian Games were one of four Greek athletic competitions of the ancient world, and ranking second only to the Olympics.  The “foot race” was a leading event.  So, we are talking about an important competition not “casual exercise.”  Without the drive to win natural ability is not enough in a competition of highly skilled athletes.  In fact, the power of the will often overcomes a lesser degree of skill as has been demonstrated many times in athletics over the years.

One of the most successful coaches of all times and a legend in sports was Vince Lombardi.  The NFL honored this legendary coach of the Green Bay packers by naming the Super Bowl Trophy after him—it is called, The Lombardi Trophy.  As a NFL coach he never had a losing season.  He was a proven winner.  Lombardi is often quoted as saying, “Winning isn’t everything—it’s the only thing!”  What he actually said was, “Winning isn’t everything, but the will to win is.” 

Clearly, through Paul the Holy Spirit exhorts us to develop a “will to win.”  The moment you become satisfied in life, you begin to slip down into the mire of mediocrity.  Greatness knows nothing of mediocrity.  Success knows nothing of mediocrity.  Victory knows nothing of mediocrity.  Our text instructs us that life is a race and we must be in it to “win it.”  As our text says,

only one receives the prize?

Someone has pointed out, “Dieting is the only game where you win by losing!”  Everywhere else, the prize goes to those with the “will to win.”  Do not twist Pauls analogy of life as a race beyond that which the Holy Spirit intended.  It is not that only “one Christian” will receive the prize of God’s grace in salvation—of course it cannot mean that.  It means that we must develop a passion to offer nothing but our very best in service to the Lord—obedience is our race and giving glory to God through our lives is the prize.

Now, I said that a cliché always has a note of truth in it.  The “soccer mom motto”: it’s not whether you win or lose but how you play the game,” does offer us another Primary Lesson teaches us we must

2.  (Lesson Two):  Win With Honor (v25)

Notice that after our text exhorts us to pursue the ultimate prize in every competition—winning—it offers a challenging caveat: 

²⁵ Now everyone who competes exercises self-control  in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away. 

Here our text says something more about the “prize” we win when our lives are devoted to God with a passionate focus on bringing Him glory.  It speaks of a “never fading crown.”  This is a reference to the “stephanos,” or woven wreath of olive branches that was placed upon the head of the winner.  Obviously, these “natural crowns” would ultimately fade and decay.  But they were highly valued.

Let me be quick to say that I cannot, and indeed would not even hint nor imply, that if a person devotes himself or herself fully and sacrificially to God in the game of life that one will receive “worldly crowns.”  The prosperity promised by many T.V. preachers is of things that will “fade away”—that is, the fame and fortune of this world.  This is a dangerous, and ultimately disappointing way of looking at the Christian life.  Many more Christians in history have experienced the sword of persecution than have experienced the septer of honor.  A “never fading crown” refers to eternal bliss not material blessings.

This is why it is so important to “seek victory with honor.”  So much of what we hear, especially in these current “primary contests” is about winning—specifically “winning at any cost.”  More than once I have seen people give the rationale, “we must get behind Trump because this is the only way we can win against Hillary.”  While that sounds quite reasonable, and may even be true politically, I believe it is false, and indeed harmful, and at it’s worst sacrifices principles on the altar of practicality.

How can a Christian openly endorse a man who drops “F-Bombs” like a seasoned bombardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress during WWII?  How can a Christian in good conscience openly support a person that has been married three times?  If one does not honor ones marriage vows—not once, but twice—then where is the man’s honor?  This is the same man who failed to pay his debtors and sought government protection in bankruptcy—not once, not twice, not three times—but on four different occasions on his way to amazing a fortune.  How can a Christian openly support a candidate for the highest office of the land—and example to every boy and girl—who openly mocks a person with a physical disability?  How can a Christian being comfortable with a man who claims himself to be a Christian but openly has said, “I have never asked God for forgiveness?”  Does this person really understand the gravity of sin and depravity of man—including himself?

My point is not to judge too harshly any man, or to make any bid for who you should or should not vote for.  My purpose in these “Primary Lessons,” especially Lesson Two:  How to Win with Honor, is to point out that it does matter whether one plays the game of life according to the rules and decrees of God—or, whether one does not.  Success that ignores the righteous decrees of God is not “real” success.  A victory gained without honor is not a “real” victory.

We often hear an objection in response to such a message as I offer here, such as “The Bible says, ‘Do not judge.’” Well, let me lay that the rest.  The Bible does NOT say, “Do not judge.”  The Bible in fact says very clearly that we as Christians have a duty to judge:

^{Jn. 7   24} Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.”

 The Bible warns us (Matthew 7:1-6) not to be “judgmental with a critical, self-righteous spirit.”  Lifting three words out of context does not relieve a person of applying God’s standard of righteousness to each and every aspect of life—including presidential candidates.  We must apply those righteous standards in a spirit of grace and mercy, but we cannot simply abdicate our responsibilities for righteous judgment because it is “unpopular.”

Let us go back to the analogy presented in our text to see what the Holy Spirit says through Paul in regard to “victory with honor,” or “winning in accordance with God’s righteous decrees.”  First, let’s look at the word, “prize,” in verse 24.  The original word root for the word we translate “prize,” often referred to an “umpire.”  An umpire would be someone who judged whether a contestant or athlete was competing according to the rules.  In other words, the “umpire” could invalidate the winning performance of a constestant if the umpire determined the contestant did not follow the rules.  In the case of the Scripture, God wrote the rule book and serves as the Umpire in the game of life.  God determines whether or not a person has “won with honor and gained a real victor,” or whether one is disqualified for breaking the rules.  As Christians, when we judge the actions and behaviors of others, we are simply applying the rules that God has established.  Therefore, ultimately our judgment is God’s judgment. He’s the Umpire and His judgments rule the game. 

Now, look a little closer at what it takes to play the game of life within the boundaries of righteousness that God has set:

²⁵ Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything.

Most people understand that it takes a great deal of “discipline, or self-control” to be a winning athlete.  A winning athlete must discipline himself or herself in regard to demanding training and, often a “not-so-delicious” diet.  An athlete, as Paul declares in 27:

²⁷ Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control.

The body is an athletes most important piece of equipment, regardless of the sport.  A winning athlete must make many hard choices and face much deprivation in their training.  In fact, the word translated “athlete” (ESV, “one who competes,” HCSB) comes from a word from which we get the English word, “agony” (agonizomenos).  The essence of winning lies in self-discipline.

However, the word translated “self-control” (v25), while it includes the idea of “self-discipline” (v27), it implies something related to “obedience”—or following the righteous decrees of God as prescribed for the game of life.  Scholars point out that the word translated “self-control” is part of a word group related to the root word meaning, “power or authority.”  This word group can refer also to lordship, as in the Lordship of Christ.  The idea of Lordship or authority reinforces the idea of an “Umpire (brabeus, v24, prize) for the Game of Life” Who determines whether a contestant (athlete) has followed the rules.  The implication from the idea of an “Umpire” or “Lord” is that winning with honor means victory that has been gained according to, or abiding by, the rules of righteousness outlined in the Word of God.

Winning is an important thing, but it is not everything.  Another Primary Lesson for winning the race of life is that we must:

3.  Lesson Three:  Run With Purpose (vv. 26-27)

I’ve already touched on this a little when we discovered that the “crown that will not fade” referred to eternal rewards received for living a life devoted to the “purpose for which God created us,” which is to bring Him glory by bringing others to Christ.”

²⁶ Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. ²⁷ Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Paul’s life was absolutely “purpose-driven.”  He switches from a running metaphor to a boxing metaphor, another popular event in the pan-hellenistic games.  He speaks about making every punch count.

Let me state this clearly so that we will not miss the import of this lesson on “purpose.”  Paul’s purpose was to glorify God and the means through which he sought to do this was to “preach the good news to others.”  This was Paul’s passion.  This was Paul’s purpose.

Notice verses 19-23:  ¹⁹ Although I am a free man and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law —to win those under the law.  ²¹ To those who are without that law,  like one without the law—not being without God’s law but within Christ’s law—to win those without the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.  ²³ Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits.

I think the logic of Christianity is as solid as the Rock of Gibralter.  If there is a God Who created us and then sent His Only Son (Son of God, and God, the Son), that is, God Himself, came to earth to die so that all men might be saved, would it not then seem most logical that the most pleasing act God’s children can perform is to “bring others to Him through the preaching of the Word.”

God loves to hear us sing.  He smiles when we bow our hearts and raise our hands in worship.  His heart leaps with joy to see His children loving one another and sharing our lives together.  God loves to talk with us in prayer.  He loves to see us reading His Word and obeying His decrees.

But . . . what brings God the most glory and what causes heaven to rejoice in a heavenly chorus is when we “bring someone to God through the preaching of His Word.”  The Bible says, “the angels in heaven rejoice when a sinner comes to repentence” (Lk. 15:10).

That is the purpose driving the Apostle Paul.  That is the “prize” for which Paul was competing—the salvation of souls.  That should be our purpose also.  Nothing is more precious than a soul and more pleasing to God when we “bring a lost soul home.”

Winners are not determined at the starting line but at the finish line.  We must keep that always in the front of our mind as we run this race of life or else we will likely stumble, or even quit, without ever experiencing the “victory with honor” God intends for us.  The problem is, in the long race of life, we cannot always see the “finish line,” and it is easy to get distracted or even discouraged. 

During this primary season, the talk is mostly about what it takes to win.  For the most part, politics as I have said, is driven by a “win-at-any-cost” ethic.  Politics looks more like a chapter out of Alice in Wonderland where up is down and right is left.  It seems so nonsensical at times.  Or worse, politics have become like an episode on the “Jerry Springer Show!”  When winning is the “only thing,” honor and righteousness are sacrificed on the altar of expediency.

I cannot tell you how many miles it will be before you cross that finish line at the portal of Glory.  I cannot tell you what obstacles, hardship, or uncertainties you may face.  I can tell you that for most of God’s children, there is precious little of material prosperity.  Some have more victories than others in this life.  What I can tell you is what God’s Word says: 

if you run to win—that is, you give God your everything and all with the desire to please him in everything you do—and, you live your life according to the dictates of heaven and the decrees of God’s Word, regardless of whether it brings success in this life or the applause of men, and you resolve to make bringing souls to Christ the driving purpose of your life . . . then, you will experience victory with honor.