1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)
24 “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 get the prize.”
Have you given much thought to just what that “prize” would be for you? Elsewhere the apostle Paul writes about winning a “crown of righteousness” but righteousness seems to me like a many faceted jewel. Each of us will be attracted to some different facet of it as a prize we value and seek.
Allow me to share with you the prize I find worth running towards every day of my life. As a category I would define it as a growing success in something of eternal value and an achievement I am convinced would bring me the greatest conceivable satisfaction and joy.
That said, two achievements come to mind:
1) a life devoid of all self-regard — that is — a life free of expecting others to think, say, or do what I think they should. That is, totally accepting where others are at in life and turning my attention elsewhere.
Expecting certain behaviors from others stems from assuming that I’ve got the right idea regarding how they should presently behave so they should listen to me. But I don’t have the right idea and I never will. Only Jesus knows what anyone needs to do at any given moment.
2) so the second achievement would be that I redirect my attention away from my expectations of others to living a life dominated by an eagerness to impart or impress upon others only what Jesus shows me is on his heart for them — first in prayer, then as he gives opportunity.
And, here are some things that are always on his heart that he wants me to impress on others:
1) that they are precious to God. Upon thinking of others, I want to practice first thinking that of them followed by lifting them up to God.
2) I want to impress on others that God is pure helpfulness. That means looking for opportunities he gives me to be helpful — things he guides me to think, pray, do, or say.
3) and when it comes to the unbelievers in my life, being sensitive to the chances God gives me to tell them that God freely offers them a friendship with himself too
In summary, all who believe in Jesus are freely blessed with a friendship with God that will last forever. But the rewarding effects of growing that friendship will vary depending on how committed each believer is to run in such a way as to get the prize.

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