NAME: Janel Yuka B.

Aoki DATE: 05/08/22

UGE 1 (READING COMPREHENSION)

Book Review: The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren

Books about how to live the Christian life abound. Christian bookshop shelves
sag underneath a load of a plethora of titles offering release from slavery, debt-free
living secrets, and keys to loving others. Yet, Rick Warren's new book The Purpose
Driven Life has chimed in the most recent. The Purpose Driven Life, as its title
declares is bound for people to uncover people’s purpose in life---on what on earth
they are here for. Another important element that a book must possess is a book
cover, and on this part, the Purpose Driven Life has clearly succeeded in aligning its
title, book content, and book cover, as it magnificently chose to highlight and
emphasize a tree as a symbol to cover the book’s wholeness. The book used the
image of a tree to signify life and growth—just like a tree, people has also its own
purpose that is bound to first sprout from a tiny leaf, until it develops strong branches
and prosperous fruits. The Purpose Driven Life is Christian pastor Rick Warren's
response to the pressing question of what we're here for, and it reveals God's five
purposes for your life, as well as how to grasp and fulfill each of them through a 40-
day spiritual path.
To begin, the book combats people's current self-centeredness and incorrect
individualism. "It's not about you," he says in the first sentence of his first chapter
(p17). As I interpret this quote, it is somehow advice to have moment-by-moment
dependence on God, as it looks like an encouraging quote to look to Christ instead
of ourselves. Telling the reader that "the ultimate objective of the world is to reflect
the power of God," demonstrates a promising level of God-centeredness, because
with this we will never feel misguided in our journey towards our destination. With
God’s centeredness, we will never be alone, it will never be us alone because we
have hive along our path.
I have also seen that the book takes great care to uphold Scripture's authority.
As the author points out right away, discovering our life's purpose should come
through revelation rather than speculation. Day 24, "Transformed by Truth,"
explicates the need for Bible consumption for progressing in gradual holiness, stating
unequivocally that "the truth transforms me" (p192). This point is evident that our
thoughts should not be the only thing to consider. We must seek the help of the
bible, for there we will find the truth, and these truths will transform us into what we
should be as Christians—into our purpose.
The book is beneficial in reminding us that "God's ultimate objective for your
life on earth is not comfort, but character development" in a culture where comfort
reigns supreme (p173). The book in my viewpoint clearly debunks the misconception
that selfless service is an optional aspect of Christian maturity, and educates the
reader on how to fulfill your [evangelistic] purpose by letting go of your own agenda
and accepting God's plan for your life… We give Him our rights, aspirations, hopes,
plans, and goals. In exchange, we’ll discover our calling.
In the end, the importance of this work much overcomes its limitations. This
book is both inspirational and useful. Warren, the author, explains what these values
entail and how they might be implemented. The Purpose Driven Life emphasized
that we are not alone, “it’s not about you” –it is not about us alone, because there is
God and with God’s power we can find the destination we are destined. With this, it
is also noted that our points and conclusions are not enough, there must be bible
consumption, as there is nothing, but the truth only that will free and transform us.
This book teaches us that we should not be blinded by our own desires, and plans,
because God’s plan is greater than ours. His plans for us are the ultimate purpose of
our lives. Nevertheless, this book has given Christians clear examples of how to
apply Scripture to everyday life. Because Warren derives his concepts directly from
the Bible, the believer who follows them will come closer to Christ-likeness. As a
result, I strongly suggest this book as this is certainly a value that will bring us one
step closer to our purpose.