“What is your life?” – James 4:14b (NIV)
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” – Anaïs Nin
Welcome to Day 5 of our Purpose-Driven Life journey! Yesterday we discovered we were made to last forever. Today, Rick Warren challenges us with a paradigm-shifting truth: The way you see your life shapes your life.
Your Life Metaphor Matters
How you define life determines your destiny. Your perspective influences how you:
- Invest your time
- Spend your money
- Use your talents
- Value your relationships
If I asked how you picture life, what image would come to mind? That image is your life metaphor – the view you hold, consciously or unconsciously, about how life works and what you expect from it.
Common Life Metaphors People Live By
Warren shares how people describe life:
- “Life is a circus” (chaotic and entertaining)
- “Life is a minefield” (dangerous and unpredictable)
- “Life is a roller coaster” (full of ups and downs)
- “Life is a puzzle” (something to figure out)
- “Life is a journey” (focused on the destination)
- “Life is a game of cards” (you play the hand you’re dealt)
People express their life metaphors through their clothes, cars, hairstyles, bumper stickers, and even tattoos. For me for the most part i have seen life as a game of chess.
Why Your Metaphor Determines Everything
Your unspoken life metaphor influences your life more than you realize. It determines:
- Your expectations – what you anticipate from life
- Your values – what matters most to you
- Your relationships – how you connect with others
- Your goals – what you’re aiming for
- Your priorities – how you spend your time and energy
For instance:
- If you think life is a party, your primary value will be having fun
- If you see life as a race, you’ll value speed and be in a hurry
- If you view life as a marathon, you’ll value endurance
- If you see life as a battle, winning will be very important to you
The Problem with Faulty Metaphors
You may be basing your life on a faulty life metaphor. To fulfill the purposes God made you for, you must challenge conventional wisdom and replace it with biblical metaphors of life.
The Bible says: "Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God."
God’s Three Life Metaphors
The Bible offers three metaphors that teach us God’s view of life:
- Life is a test
- Life is a trust
- Life is a temporary assignment (we’ll cover this tomorrow)
These ideas are the foundation of purpose-driven living.
Biblical Metaphor #1: Life is a Test
This metaphor appears throughout Scripture. God continually tests people’s:
- Character
- Faith
- Obedience
- Love
- Integrity
- Loyalty
Words like “trials,” “temptations,” “refining,” and “testing” occur more than 200 times in the Bible.
Biblical Examples of Tests
- Abraham was tested when asked to offer his son Isaac
- Jacob was tested working extra years to earn Rachel as his wife
- Adam and Eve failed their test in the Garden of Eden
- David failed several tests from God
- Joseph, Ruth, Esther, and Daniel passed their great tests
Everything Is a Test
Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test. You are always being tested.
God constantly watches your response to:
- People and problems
- Success and conflict
- Illness and disappointment
- Even the weather!
He watches simple actions like:
- Opening a door for others
- Picking up trash
- Being polite to clerks or waitresses
Predictable Tests You’ll Face
Based on Scripture, you can expect to be tested by:
- Major changes in your circumstances
- Delayed promises when God seems slow to act
- Impossible problems that seem unsolvable
- Unanswered prayers that leave you wondering
- Undeserved criticism that hurts deeply
- Senseless tragedies that don’t make sense
Warren shares from his experience: “God tests my faith through problems, tests my hope by how I handle possessions, and tests my love through people.”
The Ultimate Test: When God Feels Absent
A very important test is how you act when you can’t feel God’s presence. Sometimes God intentionally draws back.
King Hezekiah experienced this: “God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart.”
God left him alone to:
- Test his character
- Reveal a weakness
- Prepare him for more responsibility
The Good News About Tests
When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant.
- Every day is important
- Every second is a growth opportunity
- Some tests seem overwhelming, others you don’t notice
- All have eternal implications
God wants you to pass! He never allows tests greater than the grace He gives you to handle them.
“God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.”
Every time you pass a test, God notices and makes plans to reward you in eternity.
Biblical Metaphor #2: Life is a Trust
This is the second biblical metaphor. Our time on earth and our energy, intelligence, opportunities, relationships, and resources are all gifts from God that He has entrusted to our care.
We are stewards of whatever God gives us.
God Owns Everything
Stewardship begins with recognizing that God is the owner of everything and everyone on earth.
“The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord; the earth and all who live on it are his.”
We never really own anything during our brief stay on earth. God just loans the earth to us while we’re here. You just get to enjoy it for a while.
Our Original Job Description
When God created Adam and Eve, He entrusted the care of His creation to them and appointed them trustees of His property.
“[God] blessed them, and said, ‘Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge.'”
This role has never been rescinded. It’s part of our purpose today.
The Higher Standard
Our culture says: “If you don’t own it, you won’t take care of it.”
But Christians live by a higher standard: “Because God owns it, I must take the best care of it that I can.”
Warren illustrates this with a story about using someone’s beach home in Hawaii. They enjoyed it fully while taking special care because they knew it wasn’t theirs.
The Parable of the Talents
Jesus often referred to life as a trust. In the parable of the talents, a businessman entrusts his wealth to servants while away. When he returns, he evaluates each servant’s responsibility and rewards them accordingly.
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”
Three Eternal Rewards for Faithful Stewardship
- God’s Affirmation: “Good job! Well done!”
- Greater Responsibility: “I will put you in charge of many things”
- Celebration: “Come and share your Master’s happiness”
The Money Test
Most people fail to realize that money is both a test and a trust from God.
God uses finances to teach us to trust Him, and for many people, money is the greatest test of all.
“If you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”
There’s a direct relationship between how you use money and the quality of your spiritual life.
How you manage “worldly wealth” determines how much God can trust you with “spiritual riches.”
Important question: Is the way you manage your money preventing God from doing more in your life?
The Principle of Increased Responsibility
Jesus said: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
Life is a test and a trust, and the more God gives you, the more responsible He expects you to be.
Transforming Your Perspective Today
Understanding that life is a test and a trust changes everything:
- Every challenge becomes an opportunity to grow in character
- Every resource becomes a sacred responsibility
- Every relationship becomes a stewardship opportunity
- Every moment gains eternal significance
Stop seeing life through cultural metaphors and start seeing it through God’s eyes.
Day 5 Reflection Questions:
- Point to Ponder: Life is a test and a trust.
- Verse to Remember: “Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones.” – Luke 16:10a (NLT)
- Question to Consider: What has happened to me recently that I now realize was a test from God? What are the greatest matters God has entrusted to me?
Your Divine Perspective Challenge: Today, identify one current challenge as a character test from God. Instead of complaining about it, ask: “What is God trying to develop in me through this?” Then identify one resource God has entrusted to you and ask: “How can I be a better steward of this?”
Tomorrow’s Preview: We’ll explore the third biblical metaphor – Life is a temporary assignment – and discover how this perspective changes everything about our earthly priorities.
How has viewing life as a test and trust changed your perspective on your current challenges and resources? Share your insights below as we continue discovering God’s view of life together. Learn more about Day 5 on Purpose Driven.
John Thole is the voice behind Beyond Salvation, a blog that captures the highs and lows of life through faith, laughter, and honest reflection. With a passion for storytelling, technology, and spiritual growth, he creates content that resonates with seekers, believers, and anyone navigating life’s journey. Whether sharing personal insights, devotionals, or thought-provoking discussions, John aims to inspire, uplift, and spark meaningful conversations.
