Shelby Olive

 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. 25 Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but an imperishable one. 26 So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; 27 but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.

 

Reflection:

Back in my sports reporting days, my coworker and I followed a local athlete who was training for the Olympics for a human interest piece. She was—and still is—a diving phenom. Of course, we were impressed with what she could do on a diving board, but what was even more impressive was her rigorous training schedule. She was up before sunrise, would do intense strength training, and would go straight to the trampoline to do her gymnastics work. Then, she and her mom would take a Pilates class together and head to lunch. It wasn’t until after all of this that she would go to the pool and dive. I had no idea that the human body could do all of this.  

 

Out of all the analogies that Paul could choose for describing the importance of self-control as it pertains to the Christian life, he goes with an athlete. And, if we’re taking an honest look at this passage, the language is kind of harsh, maybe even off-putting. But Paul knew what human bodies were capable of doing and had not only seen the worst and the best of this, but he had actually done it. He had condemned people to death, and, after his life-changing encounter with Christ, had been set on the path of rigorously spreading the Gospel. 

 

I’m often tempted to relegate my faith to a mental exercise, as something that happens within the inner, hidden sphere of my life. And that’s true. But faith is also physical, and so some bodily training is involved. Our bodies can withdraw from our communities and can show up to be present with our loved ones. Our mouths can utter unkind words and can also bring people encouragement. Our hands can harm others and they can bring healing. When we look at all the things our bodies can do, we learn that not all of these things are holy; not all of these things contribute to the life that God envisions for those who God loves.

 

Sometimes self-control, as it pertains to the Christian life, can feel like an Olympic sport. It’s just plain hard. But just as faith is physical, so too is the Gospel. Salvation came to life in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection and it is alive—physically alive—in us today through the Holy Spirit. It is this physical Gospel that makes it possible for us to embody self-control as a fruit of the Spirit. It’s a gift. Self-control is not about making our bodies good enough or behave well enough for God, but rather it’s about allowing this physical Gospel to seep into our bones in such a way that enables us to live a life of restraint from that which is destructive so that we can physically embrace the life that God envisions for all people.

 

Prayer:

Dear God,

You have created a good creation with good bodies just as they are. I confess that it is all too easy for me to get caught up in how hard it is to control myself in difficult situations. Help me be keenly aware of how easy it is to be loved by a good and gracious God so that the fruit of self-control can’t help but show up. Amen.