From the Chaplain 

I have been watching some of the Olympics with my family and watching it made me think of a bible verse in Corinthians. It is one I have talked about in Christian Studies with the students when we talk about goal making or doing your best.  I also spoke about it a year ago in the Anchor, but it is such a good reminder; to try and aim for the prizes in life.  It says: 

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. 

25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 

26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 

Paul was telling Christians in this passage that they need to run the race of life as if they are running it for God, not for the things of this world.  In other words, be wary of being focused on gaining earthly possessions and chasing after them instead of concentrating on God, reading the word, telling people about the gospel and reaching the prize of the everlasting, heavenly reward. 

However, everyone can read this verse as an encouragement to try your best in life and ‘run in a way to get the prize.’  It says to get your prize or goal, you need to work hard and have a strict training routine like the athlete.  Without effort and if you did not really have to work for it, your prize is not really a prize.   

What are some goals you have in life or perhaps things you need to do but haven’t yet done?  Paul’s verse says, ‘don’t run around aimlessly and fight like a boxer beating the air’.  In other words; make some plans and stick to them.  Work hard to get to your prize and achieve that something that you have been putting off in your life.

Mrs Naomi Cooper | Chaplain