By Mike Vandermause

I love the first four words in Rick Warren’s devotional book “What On Earth Am I Here For?"

It’s not about you.

That phrase screams in stark contrast to just about every message we hear today from the world. We are told constantly that life is all about fulfillment, and personal happiness, and wealth accumulation, and comfort, and status, and prestige. 

In other words, it’s all about me.

Our natural inclination leans toward selfishness. In our daily lives, in the decisions we make, in the relationships we develop, in the places we go, and in the things we do, one of the most prominent questions we find ourselves asking is: “What’s in it for me?"

So I am grateful for Rick Warren’s words that cut through our self-absorbed existence and serve as a reminder that there is something better, something greater, something more than we can experience on our own.

It all starts with God. That’s the title of Warren’s devotional on Day 1, and he minces no words in explaining clearly what our existence is all about: “You were made by God and for God — and until you understand that, life will never make sense."

If you don’t understand that principle, the answers to three of life’s greatest questions won’t mean much:

Why Am I Here?

Does My Life Matter?

What is My Purpose?

In the midst of deceptive messages I hear every day, I must strive to remember that the creator of the universe has a purpose and plan for my life. I must not forget that my identity is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

In the scope of eternity, what will the 60 or 70 or 80-some years I live on this earth amount to? It’s like a raindrop in the ocean.

Why settle for so little, when the vastness and depth of God offers so much more?

It’s all about Him.

Mike Vandermause is communications director at Green Bay Community Church