Castaway

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway, 1st Corinthians 9:27.

Our word here, "castaway" is only used once in the King James Bible. Our tendency is to see a castaway as someone marooned on an island at sea. No doubt such a person is a castaway, but in our King James Bible "castaway" is the result of being "cast away" as if he were no longer useful to God. It is this that the Apostle Paul feared.

The phrase "cast away" is used in our bible 16 times. It is never good to be cast away. I think that we can agree with Bildad the Shuhite when he said; Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers, Job 8:20. People cast away things that have become worthless to them.

And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste, 2nd Kings 7:15. The fleeing Syrians were afraid for their lives and and cast away everything that might hinder their flight. When Samson had no further need for the jawbone of an ass with which he had slain Philistines, he cast it away. And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, Judges 15:17.

Things that are cast away become castaways. They are things that at one time might have held great value but now have lost their value. We cast them away when they lose their value. It is this that caused the Apostle Paul to fear. He knew that he had been of great use in the gospel but that if he did not keep under his body and keep it in subjection he would be of no value to God.

There is another New Testament warning about being cast away.

Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Luke 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

A man with salvation in Christ Jesus will not lose his own soul. That is secure in Christ Jesus. It is the "or" in that last verse that needs to be examined. Or be cast away, I know of men who at one time were used mightily by God but now they are the ass's jawbone and are cast away. They go on in their day to day ministries, but are no longer used by the Holy Ghost in the great work of the cross.

Men of God in particular, but in reality any Christian is in danger of being cast away. If they value things of this life above the cross of Jesus Christ, or if they so give way to their flesh, they are in danger of being a castaway. My own experience in having spent time as a castaway, and my observation of many in the ministry today is that many still preach, fulfill roles in the church, and conduct ministries, but they are essentially worthless to God.

Take heart if that is you. Many was the time when I would take 2nd Timothy 4:11 and cry out to God. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. This is that same John Mark who Paul would not suffer to travel with him.

Acts 15:37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Acts 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

He who was cast away became profitable. The first step necessary in being a castaway is to acknowledge before God that you have been cast away. I am not speaking about such as have shamed themselves in the ministry through adultery or filthy lucre. I speak to those who too many times in slackness have allowed their flesh to get so out of control that they have grieved God, or who have too many times placed their own life and its aspirations above the cross of Jesus Christ.

That king who spent decades in a dungeon in Babylon ended his days being honored as a King.

2nd Kings 25:27 And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;

2nd Kings 25:28 And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;

2nd Kings 25:29 And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

2nd Kings 25:30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.