The Purpose Driven Life, Chapter Five
Seeing Life From God's View
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The way you see your life shapes your life. Your perspective will influence how you invest your time, spend your money, use your talents and value your relationships.
(This seems like it's just common sense to me...sort of life a self-fulfilling prophecy)
Your life metaphor is the view of life you hold in your mind. It's your description of how life works and what you expect from it. It determines your expectations, values, goals, relationships and priorities.
The Bible offers three metaphors that teach us God's view of life. Two are covered in this chapter, and one is covered in depth in the next chapter.
1) LIFE IS A TEST
God continually tests people's character, faith, obedience, love, integrity and loyalty. God wants you to pass the tests of life, so he never allows the tests you face to be greater than the grace he gives you to handle them.
2) LIFE IS A TRUST
We never really own anything during our brief stay on earth. God just loans the earth to us while we're here. If you treat everything as a trust, God promises three rewards:
a) You receive God's affirmation.
b) You receive a promotion and greater responsibility in eternity.
c) You will be honored with a celebration.
NOTE ON MONEY:
Money is both a test and a trust from God. How we manage our money determines how much God can trust us with spiritual blessings.