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Perilous Pursuits: Overcoming Our Obsession with Significance
Ever since birth we've been told, "we're nobody unless we're number one." But now that we've so dutifully mastered the ability to defend our self-worth, this book shows why we must learn to forget it and redirect search for significance to the one true source of value: Jesus Christ.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
1 person is currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Joseph M. Stowell
67 books18 followersDr. Joseph M. Stowell serves as the 11th President of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Comprised of approximately 2500 undergraduate and graduate students, Cornerstone is a Christ-centered university with a passion for global influence through the transforming power of the gospel. The University is committed to creating an environment where students thrive both spiritually and intellectually as they prepare themselves to influence our world as followers of Jesus.
An internationally recognized conference speaker, Joe has also written numerous books including "The Trouble with Jesus, Simply Jesus and You, The Upside of Down" and "Eternity." Joe also serves with RBC Ministries, partnering in media productions, writing, and outreach to pastors. His "Strength for the Journey" web ministry, www.getmorestrength.org, features daily devotionals, weekly messages and commentary, downloadable Bible study curriculum, and an audio library of his most requested messages. Joe serves on the Board of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Wheaton College, and has a distinguished career in higher education and church leadership.
From 1987-2005, he served as the president of Moody Bible Institute, and as teaching pastor at the 10,000-member Harvest Bible Chapel in suburban Chicago from 2005 to early 2008 prior to assuming the presidency at Cornerstone University. He is a graduate of Cedarville University and Dallas Theological Seminary and was honored with a doctor of divinity degree from The Master's College in 1987. Joe and his wife Martie are the parents of three adult children and ten grandchildren.
An internationally recognized conference speaker, Joe has also written numerous books including "The Trouble with Jesus, Simply Jesus and You, The Upside of Down" and "Eternity." Joe also serves with RBC Ministries, partnering in media productions, writing, and outreach to pastors. His "Strength for the Journey" web ministry, www.getmorestrength.org, features daily devotionals, weekly messages and commentary, downloadable Bible study curriculum, and an audio library of his most requested messages. Joe serves on the Board of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Wheaton College, and has a distinguished career in higher education and church leadership.
From 1987-2005, he served as the president of Moody Bible Institute, and as teaching pastor at the 10,000-member Harvest Bible Chapel in suburban Chicago from 2005 to early 2008 prior to assuming the presidency at Cornerstone University. He is a graduate of Cedarville University and Dallas Theological Seminary and was honored with a doctor of divinity degree from The Master's College in 1987. Joe and his wife Martie are the parents of three adult children and ten grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 3, 2017
really for newer Christians. there really isn't anything new here.
the chapter on reversing pride was interesting
the chapter on reversing pride was interesting
April 5, 2010
Enjoyed meditating on this look at personal significance. Some of my favorite quotes include:
"It is safe to say that there is not an area of life that is unaffected by this primal need for significance. But apart from Christ, the passages through which we normally move to establish and maintain our significance, even when successfully negotiated, most often leave us with a sense of sorrow, loss and regret.
“Our need for significance is not the culprit. We were built for significance. The culprit is our struggling, stumbling attempts to manufacture our own sense of significance and in the process place at risk that very thing for which we strive, the very people we need and love, the society in which we move, and the cause of Christ for which we have been redeemed.”
“Our passions, pride, and desire for pleasure are powerful motivators, bubbling to the surface in our attitudes and actions. Like the search for significance, these forces are God-given and good in themselves. But unless they are submitted to God’s control, they will flow into destructive channels that not only rob us of their God-intended enjoyment, but cause us to damage ourselves and others. Just as there is no significance outside of Christ, there is no true fulfillment of these inner drives apart from Him.”
“We often think of hypocrites as those who say they believe one thing and do another. However, Scripture most often sees them as people who perform external religious acts (supposed redemptive responses) with no change (restructuring) of their hearts. Hypocrites exercise their religion to advance their personal significance. A Pharisee pursued perfection for the pleasure of moving up one more notch on the religious ladder. "
“Why are so few of us, even as Christians, genuinely content? Though Christ calls us to contentment in Him, the compulsion of more constantly threatens to pull us away from God. Many of us fall into empty searches for significance that more cannot supply.”
“Liberation from this compulsion comes when we understand the source of these desires for more.”
“None of us can deny our inner desire for more, and denial is not the answer. Like our drive for significance, and our need to fulfill our pleasure, pride and passion, our desire for more is built into us by the Creator.”
“We’re built for fulfillment in the more of Christ, but our fallenness drives us to seek more in the things around us. Only when we come to Christ in repentance and faith can our God-given longing for more be truly satisfied.”
“We maximize our pleasure when we focus it on Him – His glory and His gain – and when we minimize impulses to bypass Him in an effort to find pleasure apart from God.”
“Passion is usually taken to mean something from which human nature suffers; in reality it stands for endurance and high enthusiasm, a radiant intensity of life, life at the highest pitch all the time without any reaction.” Oswald Chambers
"It is safe to say that there is not an area of life that is unaffected by this primal need for significance. But apart from Christ, the passages through which we normally move to establish and maintain our significance, even when successfully negotiated, most often leave us with a sense of sorrow, loss and regret.
“Our need for significance is not the culprit. We were built for significance. The culprit is our struggling, stumbling attempts to manufacture our own sense of significance and in the process place at risk that very thing for which we strive, the very people we need and love, the society in which we move, and the cause of Christ for which we have been redeemed.”
“Our passions, pride, and desire for pleasure are powerful motivators, bubbling to the surface in our attitudes and actions. Like the search for significance, these forces are God-given and good in themselves. But unless they are submitted to God’s control, they will flow into destructive channels that not only rob us of their God-intended enjoyment, but cause us to damage ourselves and others. Just as there is no significance outside of Christ, there is no true fulfillment of these inner drives apart from Him.”
“We often think of hypocrites as those who say they believe one thing and do another. However, Scripture most often sees them as people who perform external religious acts (supposed redemptive responses) with no change (restructuring) of their hearts. Hypocrites exercise their religion to advance their personal significance. A Pharisee pursued perfection for the pleasure of moving up one more notch on the religious ladder. "
“Why are so few of us, even as Christians, genuinely content? Though Christ calls us to contentment in Him, the compulsion of more constantly threatens to pull us away from God. Many of us fall into empty searches for significance that more cannot supply.”
“Liberation from this compulsion comes when we understand the source of these desires for more.”
“None of us can deny our inner desire for more, and denial is not the answer. Like our drive for significance, and our need to fulfill our pleasure, pride and passion, our desire for more is built into us by the Creator.”
“We’re built for fulfillment in the more of Christ, but our fallenness drives us to seek more in the things around us. Only when we come to Christ in repentance and faith can our God-given longing for more be truly satisfied.”
“We maximize our pleasure when we focus it on Him – His glory and His gain – and when we minimize impulses to bypass Him in an effort to find pleasure apart from God.”
“Passion is usually taken to mean something from which human nature suffers; in reality it stands for endurance and high enthusiasm, a radiant intensity of life, life at the highest pitch all the time without any reaction.” Oswald Chambers
February 18, 2010
I'm becoming a fan of Joe Stowell, former president of Moody Bible Institute. Before that he was a pastor in the Detroit area and known
by Pastor Ken. I was introduced to him through his monthly column in
"Moody Monthly." The perilous pursuits discussed in the book are pride, passion, and pleasure. He calls these the "three energies of our souls: passion ("the lust of the flesh"), the longing for pleasure ("the lust of the eyes"), and pride ("the boastful pride of life."
Interesting quote: "Christ Himself took time to relax, recover, and rekindle that He might be refreshed to reach beyond Himself with renewed strength." There was an interesting quote by John Muir, who once claimed he was richer than the railroad magnate E. H. Harriman because "I have all the money I want and he hasn't." Muir knew contentment. I also got an idea for a Bible study -- trace the "one another" passages that fill the New Testament.
by Pastor Ken. I was introduced to him through his monthly column in
"Moody Monthly." The perilous pursuits discussed in the book are pride, passion, and pleasure. He calls these the "three energies of our souls: passion ("the lust of the flesh"), the longing for pleasure ("the lust of the eyes"), and pride ("the boastful pride of life."
Interesting quote: "Christ Himself took time to relax, recover, and rekindle that He might be refreshed to reach beyond Himself with renewed strength." There was an interesting quote by John Muir, who once claimed he was richer than the railroad magnate E. H. Harriman because "I have all the money I want and he hasn't." Muir knew contentment. I also got an idea for a Bible study -- trace the "one another" passages that fill the New Testament.
September 24, 2009
This book is a great general survey of the innate human tendency to crave significance, and the natural repercussions of this unending drive. He then discusses the counterpoint to this obsession, found in a life rooted in Christ.
I recommend it, but it should be followed up with Leadership & Self-Deception and The Pursuit of Holiness.
I recommend it, but it should be followed up with Leadership & Self-Deception and The Pursuit of Holiness.
September 22, 2016
I read this book a few years back and it has become one of my 'go-to' books to help me to focus on what is most important. It challenges the reader to look inside and to seek any perils that could impact a heathy relationship with God adversely. I highly recommend reading it. Very well written and practical. Convicting in the good way.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews