1 Corinthians 9:19-27 - Paul's Work As An Apostle
19 For although being free from all men, I made myself a servant to all, so that I might gain the more. 20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews, to those under law, as under law, so that I might gain those under law, 21 to those without law, as without law (not being without law to God, but within law to Christ), so that I might gain men without law. 22 To the weak I became as weak, so that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that by all means I might save some. 23 And I do this for sake of the good-news, so that I might become a fellow participant of it.
24 Know ye not that those who run in an arena, indeed all run, but one receives the prize? So run that ye may seize it. 25 And every man who strives for mastery exercises self-control in all things. Indeed therefore those men do it so that they might obtain a perishable crown, but we an imperishable. 26 I therefore run this way, not as aimlessly. I fight this way, not as flaying air. 27 But I give my body a black eye and subdue it, lest somehow having preached to others, I myself might become disqualified.