“Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, be we an imperishable crown.” 1 Corinthians 9:25, CSB

I recently had to have one of my back molars crowned. For those who have never endured this lovely dental procedure, the basic idea is that they take a mold of your existing tooth, carve away that damaged outer layer, and then create a fake protective layer that essentially gets glued onto what remains of your tooth. 

Yippee.

This process is done in two different procedures a couple of weeks apart because, at least with my dentist, the permanent crown is made in a lab off-site. That means you go in for the molds and scans and they grind away the damaged layer before doing more molds and scans and you leave the office with a temporary crown in place while you wait for the permanent one. 

It’s a process that works really well. Until you accidentally manage to eat your fake crown with a plate of nachos two days after they put it in. At that point you have to deal with trying to keep your very sensitive, very exposed tooth clean and happy until the permanent one finally comes in. It’s a joy I wish upon no one. 

The fun part of getting a crown in my mouth, though, is the number of jokes that can be made about the word. As this was my second crown, I am now a double queen, in case you wanted to know.

The Value of Crowns

Crowns – the ones that go on the head instead of the tooth – are really interesting things. They denote some sort of elevation. Either you won a contest or vote, as in getting crowned Prom king or receiving a laurel of leaves after a race, or you inherited an important role through the genetic lottery. A crown is an indication of power, of protection, of significance, and of belonging. It is given as a symbol of royalty and of victory. 

As Christians we are both royal and victorious, though not necessarily in an earthly sense. Our crowns will not look like earthly crowns. In Philippians 4, Paul talks about his joy and crown being his “dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters”. In 1 Thessalonians 2 our crown is “boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming”. James 1 speaks of the “crown of life” God has “promised to those who love him” when this race on earth is completed.

Life is difficult and a lot of work has to be put in to achieve our goals, no matter what they might be. It can be easy to be distracted by the earthly crown – the accolades, the money, the power, the respect. Just like my temporary crown, though, it’s easy to lose those benefits and when you do, you’ll find yourself exposed and vulnerable. With my permanent crown protecting my tooth now, I can eat crunchy foods, drink hot coffee, and even swish a little mouthwash around without any pain. When we keep our eyes trained on the ultimate prize – the crown God wants to bestow upon us – we find true comfort and reward. The ultimate crown we will receive when we get to Heaven can never be taken away, can never be tarnished, can never be overshadowed by another winner. 

Godly Crowns

When we value the things God values, seek the successes God desires, and claim the rewards God provides, we will win in a way that cannot be undermined. And the best part of a Godly crown? There is not a limited number of them. Since it is God who sits on the high throne, we don’t have to fight each other for ultimate power. 

Which crown are you striving for today? One that wastes away and leaves you vulnerable or one that brings you ultimate victory in Jesus?