Disqualified
“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
When a person is disqualified, he has not met the minimum requirements to participate in something. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul is talking about how being a Christian is like participating in sporting activities like running and boxing. If one has not sufficiently trained himself, he will not be able to compete and earn the crown of victory. He concludes that he must bring his body into subjection so that he will not be disqualified himself. How could the apostle Paul have been disqualified?
He could have been disqualified by not exercising his faith. In the very next chapter,he discusses how the children of Israel failed to exercise their faith and consequently fell in the wilderness. He concludes, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). He knew that he was subject to that warning also. That was why he practiced self-discipline.
He could have been disqualified by not exercising self-control. Paul made it clear that sin was not to reign in our bodies. In Romans 6:12, he wrote, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” One must practice self-control, one of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). Lack of self-control leads to fulfilling the works of the flesh, and those who practice such will not inherit the kingdom of God. They will be disqualified.
Not everyone will be qualified to enter heaven. Jesus said that only a few would (Matthew 7:14) and that the lawless would not (Matthew 7:23). We must be faithful if we expect to receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).