The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren—A Synopsis (continued). Chapter 3—What Drives Your Life? (pages 27-35) Summary Everyone is driven by something.  Five of the most common “driving forces” in life are:  Guilt These are individuals who are manipulated by memories; controlled by the past.  But one who is a product of his past does not have to be a prisoner to it.  God’s purpose for the individual is not limited by the person’s past.  God specializes in giving anyone a “fresh start.” Resentment/Anger These are individuals who retain their hurt, never releasing their pain through forgiveness.  They either “blow up” or “clam up” over it, both unhealthy reactions.  Such emotions damage the person holding on to them and not the person who has caused them.  Past circumstances will not change, so the one retaining such emotions must “let them go.” Fear These are individuals who have allowed some past event or unrealistic expectation to control their lives.  This often makes them miss opportunities because they are afraid to “venture out.”  They play it safe, avoiding risks.  Fear is a self-imposed prison.  Only faith and love can defeat one’s fears. Materialism These are individuals whose only goal in life is to acquire possessions.  They believe that more achieves happiness, status and security; but all three anticipated objectives are untrue.  Possessions only provide temporary happiness—a never ending spiral downward toward a never-fulfilling goal.  All materialism is temporary.  The only things that are permanent are those that are eternal. Approval These are individuals who must have approval, those who allow others (parents, spouses, teachers, friends, etc.) to control their lives.  Peer pressure rules them.  They become lost in the crowd they are attempting to follow.  Their key to failure is in their attempt to please everyone. Although there are other forces that may drive one’s life, a journey through this book will show anyone how to live a purpose-driven life.  Nothing matters more than knowing God’s manifold-purpose for one’s life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing it—not success, wealth, fame, or pleasure. There are five great benefits of living a purpose-driven life, as follow: Provides meaning in life. Man was created to have meaning in his life, which comes only when he has purpose in life.  With it almost anything is bearable; without it nothing is bearable.  But only God can provide true purpose for one’s life.  Without God there is no purpose and therefore no meaning to the individual.  Hope is essential to life in order to cope with it, but this comes only when a person has purpose. Provides simplification in life. Purpose creates order in one’s life—its limitations, boundaries and essentials.  It reduces stress, fatigue and conflict, which comes from attempting to do too much.  It establishes a foundation for making proper decisions, for the allocation of time and the use of resources.  Purpose-driven living leads to a simpler lifestyle and a saner schedule.  Purpose-driven individuals will always verify (check) their plans and activities with God’s purpose for their lives. Provides focus in life. Living a purpose-driven life under God will allow the person to concentrate his efforts and energies on the most important matters and issues.  Selectivity produces efficiency.  Human nature is prone toward distraction on minor issues, which results in inefficiency and non-productivity.  When there is no purpose there is only directional confusion in all areas of life (jobs, relationships, churches, etc.).  On the other hand, a focused life is a powerful life.  To have impact in life, one must be focused; otherwise, one will be actively non-productive. Provides motivation in life. Living a purpose-driven life provides the individual with passion and energy, which brings excitement and anticipation to every daily venture.  Without purpose everything is only a “chore.” Provides a foundation for eternity. Although many individuals spend a lifetime attempting to produce a legacy on earth, ultimately it matters only what God will say about them.  All earthly achievements and records are surpassed and broken; they are only temporal.  An earthly legacy is a short-sighted goal.  An eternal legacy is all that truly matters.  Everyone will eventually stand before God, and He will ask everyone two crucial questions: “What did you do with My Son, Jesus Christ?”  God’s question will not be about your religious affiliation or theology.  The only thing that will matter is whether a person has received God’s personal invitation to eternal life by faith alone in Christ alone. “What did you do with what I gave you?”  God will want to know what the person accomplished with all the gifts, talents, opportunities, energy, resources and relationships that were provided to him by God. Preparing everyone to answer correctly these two questions is the goal of this book.  The answer to the first question will determine where one spends eternity.  The answer to the second question will determine what one does in eternity [one’s rewards for service]. Quotes “Guilt-driven people are manipulated by memories.” (pg. 27) “We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.” (pg. 28) “Resentment always hurts you more than it does the person you resent.” (pg. 28) “Fear is a self-imposed prison.” (pg. 29) “Possessions only provide temporary happiness.” (pg. 29) “Self-worth and net worth are not the same.  Your value is not determined by your valuables, and God says the most valuable things in life are not things!” (pg. 29) “Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you—your relationship with God.” (pg. 29) “Unfortunately, those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it.” (pg. 29) “One key to failure is to try to please everyone.” (pg. 29) “Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning.” (pg. 30) “Hope is as essential to your life as air and water.  You need hope to cope.” (pg. 31) “Hope comes from having purpose.” (pg. 31) “Purpose-driven living leads to a simpler lifestyle and a saner schedule.” (pg. 31) “You become effective by being selective.” (pg. 32) “Never confuse activity with productivity.” (pg. 33) “Purpose always produces passion.  Nothing energizes like a clear purpose.” (pg. 33) “Living to create an earthly legacy is a short-sighted goal.” (pg. 33) “You weren’t put on earth to be remembered.  You were put here to prepare for eternity.” (pgs. 33, 34) Scriptures When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth. (Genesis 4:12) Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (Psalm 32:1) For wrath kills a foolish man, and envy slays a simple one. (Job 5:2) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18) No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24) Then I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, and my work with my God.” (Isaiah 49:4) My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. (Job 7:6) I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, for my days are but a breath. (Job 7:16) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. (Ephesians 3:20) There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. (Proverbs 13:7) You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3) Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:17) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. (Philippians 3:13) Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. (Philippians 3:15) For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. . . . So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 10b, 12) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6) Conclusion/Comments It is a grave mistake to allow guilt, resentment/anger, fear, materialism or the need for approval to drive one’s life.  The only proper driver for one’s life, by design, is God.  When one is driven by God, one has a truly purpose-driven life, which will provide meaning, simplification, focus, motivation (energy), and eternal value in one’s life. Life is brief and death is sure.  When one passes through death’s portal, it is only what one has done for God that will matter.  Any earthly legacy will be of no value in heaven and will soon be forgotten upon earth.  When one enters eternity only two things will matter and which will be everlasting.  They are:  (1) what one has done with Jesus Christ while upon earth and (2) what one has done for Jesus Christ after one’s salvation upon earth.