The discipline of our bodies, according to Paul, is for no other reason than to ensure that we will not be rejected by Christ on the last day. Of course, Jesus’s standard isn’t the body-mass index or how many pushups we can do. That is ridiculous. Paul’s point is that the physical discipline he endures is for the purpose of “fighting the good fight of faith.”

The Christian life is one of rejoicing and rest. We celebrate the victory of our Lord over death each Sunday and rest in His final proclamation that “it is finished” (John 19:30). We then walk the simple path He set out for us as He says, “Come to Me … For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt 11:28a, 30). But many Christians find themselves so filled with rest and rejoicing that they are overweight, spiritually and physically lethargic, and mentally delayed. Is this what Christ intended?

On the other hand, many secular people spend much time and energy figuring out how they can discipline themselves in order to “optimize” their performance in this life. People like Andrew Huberman, Joco Wilnick, David Goggins, and Joe Rogan are constantly amending their diets, tweaking their exercise regimens, and sharpening their minds. Why? In order to better perform the various tasks that they find themselves doing. For the secular person, their work has no eternal value. Joe Rogan practices “extreme” discipline in order to be a better podcast host. David Goggins constantly exercises with herculean effort in order to be better at … exercising. On the other hand, Christians enjoy the immensely important call to follow after Christ with all their hearts so that they can participate in the building of His kingdom. Yet, our diets are often very poor (just examine the food laid out at your church this Sunday), and our bodies are regularly burdened with the deposits of overeating and under-exercising. Is this what Christ intended?

The Apostle Paul paints a strikingly different picture. Rather than describing us as Christians just waiting for the return of Christ, we are runners in a race seeking a prize: “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” (1 Cor 9:24). The word “race” in Greek is stadion (στάδιον) which means literally, as you might guess “stadium.” Hence, the CSB (and only the CSB for some reason) has “the runners in a stadium all race.” Paul is saying that not only are we in a race in which we run after Christ, but that there are countless people watching us (cf. Heb 12:1-2). Furthermore, we are pursuing not just some perishable reward like a world-class podcast or top-dog physical performance but salvation in Christ. What could be a better motivation for self-discipline?

In order to run after this salvation in Christ, Paul says, “I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave” (1 Cor 9:27a).

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