The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren—A Synopsis (continued). Chapter 29—Accepting Your Assignment (pages 227-233) Summary God’s 4th purpose for every Christian is to serve, and serving God entails serving mankind—the believer’s ministry and mission. A believer was designed not simply to exist and consume, but to contribute to and make a difference in life. A believer is not to take from, but to add to the world around him. The Bible provides the details for every believer under the following headings: · Created to serve God. God crafted every person to do good (deeds) and provide care for His creation, both man, animals and environment. When a person does this, he is serving God. · Saved to serve God. The Christian has great significance and value due to the personal ministry and mission that God has assigned to him; which provides him a place, a purpose, a role and a function to fulfill in this life. A Christian’s service is anchored by his salvation, which came at the expense of spiritual death to the Son of God. Once saved, a Christian engulfed by love aims to lovingly (unselfishly) serve others, not for salvation but because of salvation (a permanent and final action between God and the believer). It is God’s purpose for the believer to stay in the world and fulfill His holy purpose in reaching those who are still without His Son and to minister to other Christians. · Called to serve God. Any person who has accepted God’s free-gift of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone has, by the same transaction, been called to full-time Christian service, no matter his “secular” occupation. A call to serve is not unique to pastors, missionaries, or “full-time” church workers. The Christian’s ministry and mission is both to other believers in a local church environment and to the lost in the world. As a specific and unique member of the Body of Christ, every believer must fulfill his specific and unique function in order for the Body to be whole and efficacious. · Commanded to serve God. Christian service is really not an option for the believer. The believer should never think spiritual maturity is an end in itself, but rather, it is for spiritual service for and to others. Only through such service to God by spiritually ministering to others in this world (through the local church and apart from it) is a Christian able to exercise his “spiritual muscle” and grow in Christ. Serving God by ministering to orders, both the saved and the lost, in accordance with Bible doctrine is the God-ordained way of preparing for eternity. At the “end of the day,” the believer will stand before His Savior and give an account of his stewardship, time and service. Then, there will be no excuse. The truth is that a believer’s service will not only accrue eternal rewards, but will also enliven him during this life—a Christian only “exists” when not serving, but he fully comes alive when he is fulfilling God’s purpose of service in his life. To have significance in life, a believer must serve. The length of his life matters little, but his service in life matters to the highest degree. There are numerous examples in Holy Writ of individuals who were: · Old—Abraham · Insecure—Jacob · Unattractive—Leah · Abused—Joseph · Physically defective—Moses · Poor—Gideon · Codependent—Samson · Immoral—Rahab and David · Suicidal—Elijah · Depressed—Jeremiah · Reluctant—Jonah · Widowed—Naomi · Eccentric—John the Baptist · Impulsive and hot-tempered—Peter · Engulfed in worry—Martha · A failure in multiple marriages—Samaritan woman · Unpopular—Zacchaeus · Doubters—Thomas · In poor health (Paul) · Timid (Timothy). Yet God used all these misfits mightily in His service. God will use any of His children, but they must not allow, entertain or exercise any excuse to avoid God’s will in their life. Quotes “God designed you to make a difference with your life.” (pg. 227) “You were created to add to life on earth, not just take from it.” (pg. 227) “You’re not saved by service, but you are saved for service. In God’s kingdom, you have a place, a purpose, a role, and a function to fulfill. This gives your life great significance and value.” (pg. 228) “A saved heart is one that wants to serve.” (pg. 228) “Once you are saved, God intends to use you for His goals. God has a ministry for you in His church and a mission for you in the world.” (pg 229) “Regardless of your job or career, you are called to full-time Christian service.” (pg. 229) “There are no insignificant ministries in the church. . . . Small or hidden ministries often make the biggest difference.” (pg. 230) “Jesus taught that spiritual maturity is never an end in itself. Maturity is for ministry! We grow up in order to give out.” (pg. 231) “Impression without expression causes depression. Study without service leads to spiritual stagnation.” (pg. 231) “The mature follower of Jesus stops asking, ‘Who’s going to meet my needs?’ and starts asking, ‘Whose needs can I meet?’” (pg. 231) “One day God will compare how much time and energy we spent on ourselves compared with what we invested in serving others.” (pg. 232) “We are only fully alive when we’re helping others.” (pg. 232) “What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it. Not how long you lived, but how you lived.” (pg. 233) Scriptures 1 Corinthians 3:5, 6; Ephesians 2:10; John 17:4; Colossians 3;23, 24; Matthew 25:34-45; Ephesians 6:7; Jeremiah 1:5; 2 Timothy 1;9; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Romans 12:1; 1 John 3:14; Matthew 8:15; Ephesians 4:4-14; Romans 1:6, 7; 8:28-30; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 9, 26: 7:17: Philippians 3:14; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Peter 2:9; Romans 7:4; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Matthew 20:28; Romans 14:12; 2:8; Mark 8:35; Matthew 10:39; 16:25; Luke 9:24; 17:33; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:14a, 19. Conclusion/Comments All events (creation, salvation, calling and authority) in a Christian’s life were intended for him to serve God through his distinct and unique God-given ministry to believers and mission to the lost in the world. It is the only way a Christian can fully mature spiritually, to experience and enjoy life to its fullest, and to accrue eternal awards.