Review of The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren

by Manyano Mnkunzi
(Wesbank, South Africa)

The Purpose Driven Life

God created everything. The first sentence of The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren is "It is not about you". Life on earth is about God. After a short introduction, Rick reveals five purposes for our lives.

"What on earth am I here for?" That is the question you are faced with at the beginning of the book. Rick goes on to tell us that in every human life there is a purpose or a reason. The book tells us that it all started with God. It is not an accident that you were created. You will live more focused knowing what drives your life.

God want us to see life from his point of view. You were planned for God's pleasure. This is the first purpose Rick mentions. God want you to become his best friend, worshiping Him and being honest with Him. Those are the simple things that bring pleasure to Him. God wants friendship, and even though He may seem distant, He is always near.

Secondly, God made you part of his Family and it is important to realize that He loves you. Further, God wants you to love others as He loves you.

The third purpose is that you were created to become like Christ. You are supposed to be able to stand against and defeat temptation. You are no longer a slave to sin.

Then God also shaped us to be able to serve Him. When explaining this fourth purpose, Rick Warren discusses your assignment and how you can realize you were shaped for fulfilling it.

Finally, the fifth purpose reveals that you were made for a mission. What is this mission? You are supposed to have both a ministry and a mission. Your mission being to service to unbelievers, and your ministry being service to believers. After studying this final section of the book, you will be motivated and ready for your mission.

How does it read?

This is an easy book. Rick divided his book into 40 different days. Ideally, you should read only one day at a time. Near the beginning of the book, Rick explains why he wants you to follow this approach. I will not tell his secret here…

The Purpose Driven Life has 334 pages of a medium-sized type; it quotes Scripture often, and has six parts. At the end of each day we find points to ponder, question to consider and verses to remember, or memorize.

What did this book mean to me personally?

There is a reason behind everything that happens on earth. I now know that I was created for a bigger purpose. I have a purpose to fulfill.

Facing change is difficult. God has a plan for every person that He created, including me. Now, I must start living my life in a new way. I now know my purpose, by knowing God's purpose for me. I will try my best to make the most of my life, by living according to my newfound purpose.

Conclusion

This is an excellent book. It is very important to know why you are on earth. Reading The Purpose Driven Life will definitely help you discover your purpose. Then you will be able to live and to fulfill your purpose.

The Purpose Driven Life is a book for everyone. Maybe that is why over 30 million copies of the book have been sold. Read it, and be sure that you are busy with what God made you to be busy with.