Paul has been talking about his choice to deny his rights. He has given up an apostolic right to receive funds from those he serves so as not to create a stumbling block. He is willing to give up the right to eat meat if it causes people to be hindered from coming to the faith. He has given up his right to be comfortable and so has made himself become all men to all people in order that he might save some.
It was self-denial based on loving others. It wasn’t forced upon him. It wasn’t something that caused him to be embittered. It was his joy to do so.
He states this in the illustration of “the games,” the famous Greek competitions.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor 9:24-27).
Was he referencing the Olympics of his time? Possibly. The Olympics began in Greece in 724 BC, but there are many competitions and races throughout human history. It is within the nature of humans.
Paul’s point is that he says ‘no’ to things that are comfortable and enjoyable to pursue a greater goal. Athletes in races deny themselves to win an earthly prize. As a Christ follower, he trains in a similar way to achieve a heavenly prize.
He isn’t talking works here. He is talking about self-denial towards the goal.
This also isn’t a verse about allowing people to abuse you and calling it self-sacrifice. That is others sacrifice, not self-sacrifice.
He is talking about giving up rights for the sake of the kingdom. It is about doing everything within his power to see others come to Christ and mature in Him.
Here’s a reality. Modern Christianity has often been about finding comfort. It is the focus of our prayers and the advice from our friends, “God wouldn’t want you not to be happy,” or “it’s not wise to expose yourself to harm.”
The life of the first century apostles and leaders was about willingly giving up comfort and safety for the sake of the gospel. They didn’t just wait for it to come. They ran to it. Not because they wanted to suffer, but because they were willing to sacrifice their own comfort, and even their own lives, so that all my come to salvation and be discipled.
We all need to bring back the level of Christianity again.