For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
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.
Comment: The opening may be the Jewish way of saying something. Quite frankly, for me, it is a bit wordy. His reward in preaching the gospel is being at his own expense to share the most wonderful, beyond imagination, the best news that anyone can hear! Sorry but I have used almost as many words as he did!
Next he says that whilst not changing his desire and practice to walk the Jesus Way he was prepared to sit down with anyone – Jew or gentile; legalistic or lawless; intellectually or morally weak – and share the good news of the gospel.
Then he uses the example of the athlete who seeks for a mere laurel placed on their head to work very hard in preparation. To win, having ‘punished their bodies with extreme exercise, they want the greatest chance of winning! So speaking about his ‘body’ (by which I take it he means every aspect of his life and abilities and character – his true self!) he doesn’t perform a mock preparation but wholeheartedly prepares. Maybe only one can win a race, but many of the faithful can hear ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’
Prayer: Help me to be well prepared and enthusiastic in sharing my good news, as Jesus commanded!
As I read it! 