God prescribed every single detail of your body. (p. 22)3. What Drives Your Life?
Nothing in your life is arbitrary. (p. 23)
God had a plan in creating you. (p. 23)
...there are no illegitimate children. (p. 23)
God's purpose took into account human error, and even sin. (p. 23)
God never does anything accidentally, and he never makes mistakes. (p. 23)
God's motive for creating you was his love. (p. 24)
Love is the essence of God's character. (p. 24)
Many people are driven by guilt. (p. 27)There are a few things about this, most of them good.
We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it. (p. 28)
God specializes in giving people a fresh start. (p. 28)
Most people are driven by resentment and anger. (p. 28)
Those who have hurt you in the past cannot continue to hurt you now unless you hold on to the pain through resentment. (p. 28)
Many people are driven by fear. (p. 28)
Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. (p. 29)
Many people are driven by materialism. (p. 29)
Self-worth and net worth are not the same. (p. 29)
Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you - your relationship with God. (p. 29)
Many people are driven by the need for approval. (p. 29)
...those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it. (p. 29)
Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason. Without a purpose, life is trivial, petty, and pointless. (p. 30)
Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life. (p. 30)
Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope. (p. 30)
Knowing your purpose simplifies your life. (p. 31)
Without a clear purpose you have no foundation on which you base decisions, allocate your time, and use your resources. (p. 31)
It is impossible to do everything people want you to do. (p. 31)
Knowing your purpose focuses your life. (p. 32)
Never confuse activity with productivity. (p. 33)
Knowing your purpose motivates your life. (p. 33)
...passion dissipates when you lack a purpose. (p. 33)
Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity. (p. 33)
"What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ?" (p. 34)
"What did you do with what I gave you?" (p. 34)
I actually agree with pretty much everything Mr Warren wrote here, except for this: "Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope." (p. 30)
I know a number of people who are not Christians. Their lives have purpose, meaning, significance, and hope. I am a Christian who is clinically depressed. I have been suicidal. My life at those times had no hope.
One thing I see a lot of Christians missing, in their attempts to share the good news of Christ, is the fact that non-Christians are actually able to live happy, fulfilled lives. Yes, believe it or not, it's true. And in the face of that, we need to have more to share with them than "Make your life better by putting your faith in Christ!" That message is no more important to a person who is happy than an ad for the latest PlayStation. (Actually, it may well be far less important than the PlayStation ad.)
I would rather take the approach that my life has purpose, whether I know Christ or not. There is the possibility of being happy whether I know Christ or not. But I am better able to know and understand (and fulfill) my purpose if I am in relationship with Christ, and that gives me a better chance of having joy in my life. (Noting that joy and happiness are not synonyms.)
1 comment:
excellent point -- why start the conversation by telling someone how empty and wasted his life is, simply becuase he doesn't know God? Someone with hope and purpose in his life can be rational and open to the joy and even greater rewards his life can have through God, but doesn't want to hear how everything he has is worthless. Beautiful writing, thank you for sharing your openness and honesty.
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