16. I don't have any reason to boast about preaching the good news. Preaching is something God told me to do, and if I don't do it, I am doomed.
17. If I preach because I want to, I will be paid. But even if I don't want to, it is still something God has sent me to do.
18. What pay am I given? It is the chance to preach the good news free of charge and not to use the privileges that are mine because I am a preacher.
19. I am not anyone's slave. But I have become a slave to everyone, so that I can win as many people as possible.
20. When I am with the Jews, I live like a Jew to win Jews. They are ruled by the Law of Moses, and I am not. But I live by the Law to win them.
21. And when I am with people who are not ruled by the Law, I forget about the Law to win them. Of course, I never really forget about the law of God. In fact, I am ruled by the law of Christ.
22. When I am with people whose faith is weak, I live as they do to win them. I do everything I can to win everyone I possibly can.
23. I do all this for the good news, because I want to share in its blessings.
24. You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So run to win!
25. Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last for ever.
26. I don't run without a goal. And I don't box by beating my fists in the air.
27. I keep my body under control and make it my slave, so I won't lose out after telling the good news to others.