40 Quotes on Purpose
A review of “The Purpose Driven Life: What on earth am I here for?” by Rick Warren
The question of purpose—"What am I here (earth) for?”—is a question on the mind of every human. Each one of us seek meaning and purpose of our existence. No one just wants to live through his lifetime. There just has to be some meaning to life, despite the vicissitudes.
In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren, presents an all encompassing summary of the purpose of man on earth. The book, sectioned into 40 chapters (recommended to read a chapter a day), covers the discussion about where we must begin the talk about our existence to how we ought to live, in response to that understanding.
The following are 40 powerful quotes excerpted directly from the book; one from every chapter of the book.
‘The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by His purpose and for His purpose.
‘Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. . . . Nothing in your life is arbitrary. It’s all for a purpose.
‘Living to create an earthly legacy is a short-sighted goal. . . . You weren’t put on earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity.
‘When you live in light of eternity, your values change. You use your time and more wisely. You place a higher premium on relationships and character instead of fame or wealth or achievements or even fun.
‘Life is a test, life is a trust, and life is a temporary assignment.
‘To make the best of your life, you must never forget two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence.
‘The ultimate goal of the universe is to show the glory of God. It is the reason for everything that exists, including you.
‘God did not need to create you, but he chose to create you for his own enjoyment. You exist for His benefit, His glory, and His delight.
‘This is what God wants most from you: a relationship! It’s the most astounding truth in the universe—that our creator wants to fellowship with us.
‘You cannot fulfill God’s purpose for your life while focusing on your own plans.
‘Friendship with God is possible only because of the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus.
‘Pain is the fuel of passion—it energises us with an intensity to change that we don’t normally possess.
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‘God wants a family, and he created you to be a part of it.
‘Life is all about Love. Because God is Love, the most important lesson He wants you to learn on earth is how to Love.
‘You discover your role in life through your relationships with others.
‘We only grow by taking risks, and the most difficult risk of all is to be honest with ourselves and with others.
‘In fact, the tunnel of conflict is the passageway to intimacy in a relationship. . . . When conflict is handled correctly, we grow closer to each other by facing and resolving our differences.
‘Most conflict is rooted in unmet needs. Some of these needs can only be met by God.
‘Reconciliation, not running away, is the road to stronger character and deeper fellowship.
‘In all of creation, only human beings are made “in God’s image”. This is a great privilege and gives us dignity.
‘Nothing shapes your life more than the commitments you choose to make. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you. Tell me what you are committed to, and I’ll tell you what you will be in twenty years. We become whatever we are committed to.
‘The most important decision you can make today is to settle this issue of what will be the ultimate authority of your life.
‘We are like jewels, shaped with a hammer and chisel of adversity. . . . Every problem is a character building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater the potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fibre.
‘Happiness depends on external circumstances, but joy is based on your relationship to God.
‘The reason we hide our faults is pride. We want others to think we have everything “under control”.
‘Remember how far you’ve come , not just how far you have to go. You are not where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be.
‘Service is the pathway to real significance. . . . What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it. Not how long you lived but how you lived.
‘God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise.
‘God designed each of us so there would be no duplication in the world. No one has the exact same mix of factors that make you unique.
‘Whatever gifts you have been given can be enlarged and developed through practice.
‘God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are. Less than perfect service is always better than the best intention.
‘It is only when we forget ourselves that we do things that deserve to be remembered.
‘Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.
‘Fulfilling your mission in the world is [part of] God’s purpose for your life.
‘While it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser learn from the experiences of others. There isn’t enough to learn everything in life by trial and error.
‘To make the most of your time on earth, you must maintain an eternal perspective.
‘Regardless of your age, the rest of your life can be the best of your life, and you can start living on purpose today.
‘Living on purpose in the only way to really live. Everything else is just existing’.