From the heart (I Cor. 9)

What do you find rewarding? In the movie Chariots of Fire, the protagonist tells his sister, "Yes, God made me for China. But He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His approval."

The amazing book What Color is Your Parachute? asserts that each of us is lovingly and carefully designed to fulfill a specific assignment. When we function in accord with our construction, we experience joy, fruitfulness, and productivity. Apparently, just doing one's special task, exercising one's special talent, is its own reward. Let's see how Paul described his motivation:

1Co 9:16 Müjde'yi yayıyorum diye övünmeye hakkım yok. Çünkü bunu yapmakla yükümlüyüm. Müjde'yi yaymazsam vay halime!
1Co 9:17 Eğer Müjde'yi gönülden yayarsam, ödülüm olur; gönülsüzce yayarsam, yalnızca bana emanet edilen görevi yapmış olurum.
1Co 9:18 Peki, ödülüm nedir? Müjde'yi karşılıksız yaymak ve böylece Müjde'yi yaymaktan doğan hakkımı kullanmamaktır.

And, let's look at a few words:

• Müjde -- the Gospel
  
• yaymak -- to disperse, distribute, spread around
  
• yaymazsam -- "if I do not spread around" -- 1st person subjunctive mood, present tense
  
• gönülden -- from the heart
  
• gönülsüzce -- without putting one's heart into something
  
• ödülüm -- reward
  

We will end up, sooner or later, doing what we were meant to do. It makes sense to get with the program as soon as possible, if one desires to get the most out of life.