“strive lawfully” [II Timothy 2:5]

“strive lawfully”. Put simply – don’t get disqualified.
When the writer was young he belonged to an athletic club and well remembers an occasion when running the last leg of a relay race. He took the baton well down in the order and to his surprise noticed that the runner in front was cutting inside the marked track. There was no way of overtaking him if he did this. He reached the finishing line first but was disqualified.
There are rules in the Christian race and not everyone who appears to be running successfully is adhering to them. That is what the Judgment Seat of Christ is all about and many “unknowns” will be recognised there. Really, you know, it will give those a chance who spend all their life playing second fiddle.