Purpose Driven and On Course

Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of the wildly best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, lives what he teaches! When the failures and sins of leaders are headline material so frequently, Warren's steady commitment to Christ is worthy of note. In the October, '05 issue of Christianity Today, there is a report about Warren.

"With this book and his earlier best-seller, The Purpose Driven Church, Warren has sold 26 million books... because of the millions in book sales, he has become wealthy. His celebrity also sprang forward, ranked as the second most influential evangelical after Billy Graham by pastors surveyed in America. With this new found affluence and influence, the Warrens made five decisions:
-They did not upgrade their lifestyle.
-Warren stopped taking a salary from his church, and -repaid 25 years of salary he had collected since 1980, when he founded the church.
-They created three charitable foundations.
-They started 'reverse' tithing,' meaning that they give away 90 percent of their income and live on 10 percent."

Many people do not know that at the very same time that his book was taking off on the best-seller lists, Kay Warren, Rick's wife, was fighting for her life with cancer! If anyone might have decided to 'take it easy' or to step away from the rigorous demands of church leadership, it might have been Rick Warren. He could have hit the conference lecture circuit and lived the 'good life,' but he knew that he lived for God's pleasure, not his own. He allowed God to use Kay's cancer to further shape his life for divine purposes. He stayed steady, growing into greater ministry responsibilities, not less. Kay Warren regained her health and became a great influence in Rick's life as, with her new perspective on life, she 'discovered' the great needs of those who lived in grinding poverty and with wasting disease, particularly AIDS. Now both of them, in addition to leading Saddleback Church, are working to focus the American church on these world needs and the answer that is found in Christ and His Church.

There is no test of character like success and, to date, Rick Warren's character has been revealed as being rock solid in Christ Jesus. He is a man owned by the Spirit of God. Friend, if we know that the meaning of life is to serve God's purposes, as Rick Warren does, our lives will be steadied and focused, too. Have you answered the key question of a purposeful life? Here is it - what on earth am I here for? What are you living for today, God's pleasure or your own? Can God trust you with greater blessings? Those are the questions I asked myself this morning, prayerfully before God.

A depth of character and Christian commitment that is able to withstand the lures of success is not built after the success comes, but before! Rick Warren lived in the Spirit and to serve God-- long before his church became "mega,' long before his books became best-sellers, long before he had access to vast wealth. Today, join me in two things. First, let's thank God for men and women like Rick and Kay Warren who are radically committed to Jesus Christ, whose lives are an inspiration. Second, let's ask the Lord to lead us deeper into His purposes, building the character of Jesus in us so that we will serve Him come 'hell or high water!'

"Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after. But you.... Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:10-12, The Message)

"Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time." (James 5:7-8, The Message)
__________________________

"Father, I praise you for the inspiration to be found in the commitment of Pastor Rick Warren.
Keep him, protect him, and let him finish well for your glory.
Help me to stay steady, serving You equally well in times of success and times of difficulty.
Lord, open my eyes each day to Your purpose for me, and give me the faith to live squarely in the center of Your will, and the grace to live there- with joy!
Holy Spirit, help me to be aware of Your Presence, to seek intimacy with You that I might live a holy life.
I pray this in the name of the Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. - Amen."