21. To those who are without the law I became like a person who is without the law. I did this to win those people who are without the law. (But really, I am not without God’s law—I am ruled by Christ’s law.)
22. To those who are weak, I became weak so I could win the weak. I have become all things to all people so I could save some of them in any way possible.
23. I do all this because of the Good News and so I can share in its blessings.
24. You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. So run to win!
25. All those who compete in the games use self-control so they can win a crown. That crown is an earthly thing that lasts only a short time, but our crown will never be destroyed.
26. So I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something—not just the air.
27. I treat my body hard and make it my slave so that I myself will not be disqualified after I have preached to others.