The Danger of Insignificance

"But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Speaking on a strictly personal basis, beloved, I know of no danger so great for the servant of Jesus Christ than that of becoming spiritually insignificant! And if asked, I am convinced that many of my contemporaries would rank such a danger high on their list as well. The Apostle Paul spoke indirectly of his own desire to avoid such insignificance when he wrote to the saints in Corinth concerning his need to discipline his living so as not to become himself "disqualified" in the final analysis.

This same word in the original language of the New Testament means literally "without approval" in the sense of being unacceptable. As this statement of the apostle came to mind, beloved, all that I could think about was the danger of becoming spiritually insignificant because of an undisciplined life. And to add to the graphic image here presented by Paul, note the qualifying term which precedes it - "after I have preached (or proclaimed God's truth) to others." What more devastating event could occur, then, in a Christian's life than to herald the gospel, to minister to hurting hearts, to disciple other believers, and then to fail to maintain one's own spiritual significance because of a lack of self-control?

What was the apostle's solution to such a dreaded prospect? What specifically did he determine that he needed to do within his own life? Again the original language of Scripture is even more graphic than the one we have just considered. Here the word means "strike under the eye" in the literal sense of giving oneself a black eye or figuratively of subjecting oneself to a rigorous spiritual discipline so as to remain a true and faithful servant of Jesus Christ. And to succeed in that quest is the height of spiritual significance, beloved!

As I continued, then, with my own meditative thoughts concerning this awesome truth, I came to the conclusion that to be spiritually insignificant would be to have failed to stay the course and, thus, to have failed to make an impact upon the lives of those whom the Spirit of God caused to cross my path. So in that sense, I find that I join myself wholeheartedly to the desire of the Apostle Paul - heart to heart and soul to soul - to discipline myself vigorously so that my service will show in the end to have had spiritual significance. Just some personal thoughts I wanted to share with you. May the Spirit of God lead each of you to ever be spiritually significant! Insignificance is a danger to be avoided at all cost.

Ron