Thursday, March 3, 2016

VIP by O. S. Hawkins

We humans love to be important, to be recognized. It's a prideful desire that is part of our inheritance from the fall.

But what if we desire to be a Very Influential Person? Using 2 Cor. 10:13, 15 (ESV), Hawkins argues that God has given each of us a specific area of influence where no one can be as effective as we can.

Continuing the use of VIP, he suggests we become people of Vision, Integrity, and Purpose. He writes of the importance of vision in one's life and tells stories of people who inspired others with their vision. Our culture needs people of integrity, he says. He explains how it must be rooted in our private world and will then be reflected in our public world. While every Christian has the general purpose of glorifying God, God wants to reveal a specific purpose for each of us. We must be in relationship with God, sensitive to the Spirit, and know the Word for us to know our individual purpose. Living this kind of life is following the example of Jesus.

Hawkins includes stories of people who have influenced his life in the last quarter of the book.

This little book might be a nice gift for graduation or as one contemplates a career change. It is very readable and encourages us to be influential in those particular areas God has chosen for us.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

O. S. Hawkins has served in pastorates for over twenty-five years, including First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. He is the president of GuideStone Financial Resources which serves employees of Christian organizations with their retirement and benefit services needs. He is the author of more than twenty-five books. He and his wife have two married daughters and six grandchildren. You can find out more at www.oshawkins.com.

Thomas Nelson, 128 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

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