1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Living Bible

²⁴ In a race everyone runs, but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. ²⁵ To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup,^[a] but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears.