Benched

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. – 1 Corinthians 9.24-27

One of the things Paul always seems to dread is the possibility of not being fervent and determined and dedicated to serve God and talk about Jesus. In this section about  running the race he says that he runs with certainty. He is not just beating at the air for nothing. He fears that he might be found a castaway.

We use a diffferent phrase today in some sports. If a player is not fit to play we say that he has been benched. He is at the game but he does not get to play. He is sidelined.

I don’t think any serious athlete likes to ‘ride the bench.’ Serious athletes want to be in the game where the action is. They want to take part and make a difference. They want to be where the excitement is.

That attitude should be the attitude that we strive for in our Christian life. No Christian ought to find themselves cast aside or find themselves sitting in the bench.

Sadly it seems that a lot of Christians are happy enough to be on the team, but not play their part.

That’s really sad, isn’t it? It’s just not normal – or it shouldn’t be.

Being in the bench means that we are not being stedfast and unmoveable and abounding in God’s work. It means we are just along for the ride. That’s not God's plan for us.