1 Corinthians 9 : 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 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.

Paul finishes this chapter by telling us that he he was not running the race just to be running but he ran to finish the race. Which means he was not preaching just to here himself preach but he expected to get results. This shows us that there must be a goal in ministering just as there is a goal in a race. The same is true when he speaks of beating the air in that he is just waving his arms in air at nothing but is expecting to make a connection with something. Finally he says he disciplines himself to the teachings of the Bible plus he practices what he preaches. He does not want to be seen as a hypocrite so that he would cast aside and not listened to. Paul lived the Christian life to all he ministered to because he wanted nothing but to do the will of God. This is setting us an example to live by and in this world we live in today we can almost expect some of the rejection Paul faced.