My television burned smokin’ hot this weekend with the start of the college football season. From Thursday evening (Go Mizzou!) through Monday, football beamed its special brand of glory into my living room. Like a pig to slop, I wallowed in touchdowns and fumbles. Next weekend the NFL season begins—gotta let the TV cool down before that binge.

I draw some justification in my enjoyment of football thanks to Paul’s references to athletes and competitions. To the Corinthians he wrote, do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to win.

Paul highlighted the self-discipline all successful athletes exhibit—everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.

During one of the pre-game warmups this weekend, a coach walked among his players, patting them on their helmets and repeating this mantra: trust your training. The team drilled and sweated and studied for weeks—trained—to not only prepare, but to win.

The life of faith involves training and preparation and self-discipline. Time in the scriptures, praying and seeking the Lord, listening to the Holy Spirit and learning from others all build our faith for challenges ahead.

Finally, Paul worried about being disqualified. To avoid that fate he encourages us to train and prepare. So that in the midst of the games—the fierce engagements of life—we’ll find ourselves competing for the prize.

1 Corinthians 9 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Gene Gallin