Running for a Reward

“No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” – 1 Corinthians 9:27 Often we feel like we should press on because it’s the right and noble thing to do, and while this is true, it’s helpful to be motivated by a prize. Though it’s a bit unorthodox, it can be a source of motivation to think of life as a game; one in which we are competing to win the most precious and valuable reward known to man — worldly contentment and everlasting life with our Lord and Savior.  Interestingly, for thousands of years, competitions, matches, and sports have been a source of entertainment and inspiration to humankind. The Olympic games originated in Athens as many as 3,000 years ago, and wrestling matches in the ancient world preceded