2022_05_30 Insight Post- Kim Feld

  -   May 30, 2022

This week’s reading- 1 Corinthians 9-10

Before I begin my post this morning, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all our military families. So many have lost loved ones in defense of and service to our country. Romans 12:15 tells us to mourn with those who mourn; today, we remember the ultimate sacrifice given.

As we continue our reading in 1 Corinthians 9-10, I want to focus our attention on the end of chapter 9, verses 24-27 in the New Living translation:

^24 “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! ²⁵ All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. ²⁶ So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. ²⁷ I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”

It seems like every day I’m reading about a new scandal involving a church leader. Reputations are ruined, and ministries are thrown into chaos because of a person’s choices in leadership positions. It’s heartbreaking, and, as a leader, it’s sobering. In these verses, Paul is using athletic training as a comparison. He’s saying that as believers, we should take on the same mindset that an athlete does and discipline ourselves so that we finish well and don’t open ourselves up to be “disqualified.” When Paul says disqualified, I don’t believe he means loss of salvation. Instead, I think he means loss of impact and effectiveness. Unfortunately, that’s what we are seeing played out with increasing regularity.

I’m not trying to throw stones; instead, I am saying that we need to examine ourselves and the way we do business. What role does self-discipline have in our lives? What about confession and repentance? Most of the situations that we read about didn’t just happen – they happened years ago, and an intentional effort to cover them up was made. Others were often complicit in keeping the situation hidden. Yet, Psalm 51:6 says that God desires truth and honesty from within us – the KJV uses the phrase “inward parts,” referring to the heart. So, when sinful behavior is hidden, and the excuse for hiding it is that the person was protecting the Church or saving all the good that God was doing, it’s a farce. The God who created the universe doesn’t need our protection. He wants us to be truthful and honest. He wants us focused on Him, not satisfying our own sinful passions and quest for power. Make no mistake; God will not allow things to be hidden forever.

For those of us who are Christian leaders, this ought to literally put the fear of God in us. But God never leaves us to our own devices. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT:

^12 “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. ¹³ The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

God will always give us a way to avoid temptation if we look to Him for it. Always. But He also knows that we are imperfect humans who mess up even when He tries to help us avoid it.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:9 NLT

God doesn’t need you and me to protect His reputation or even the reputation of the Church. Instead, He wants our words and lives to point people to our faithful, loving Father.