“It’s Not About Me”

“It’s Not About Me” (Rescue from the life we thought would make us happy) by Max Lucado.  Thomas Nelson. 2004.

Review by Steve Hyde

Max Lucado is a great author who has a way with words that makes you want to engage with the text.  In the opening chapter he presents his thesis that people think the world is about them.  We live very self-centered lives.  He compares that with how in the past astrologers, scholars and religious leaders all thought that the earth was the center of the universe.  Those who thought contrary were rebels and condemned.  He contends that people should not think of themselves like the earth (the proverbial center of the universe) but as the moon.  The moon only reflects light, it is nothing but a chuck of dirt by itself.  We too, created by God, are to be a reflection of God instead of wanting to have the focus be on ourselves.

My favorite chapter in the book is chapter 10. In this, Lucado talks about the problem of people wanting to add their own “ingredients” to God’s perfect plan. They want to do that, because it makes them feel like it is about them.  The results are incomplete.  Jesus plus anything else is just legalism.  Lucado strikes a hard tone against legalism because in essence it is “self-salvation” and highlights the problem of our self-centered lives.  It is not about me!  Lucado’s conclusion is that “May we have no higher goal than to see someone think more highly of our Father, our King.”

I liked this book.  The anecdotes are interesting and help me focus on his point.  They are both relevant and Biblical.  I like how he combines modern illustrations with Biblical ones to make the point.  It is a short book and quick to read.  At only 120 pages you can read it easily in a few hours and its singular point will give you plenty to ponder about your own life.  I think this is a good book for anyone to read, especially those searching for “purpose”.  Maybe you have a struggle in finding a church that fits you, or struggles with life, either way, you will benefit from this book.  I highly recommend it.

    Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program for my honest evaluation and review.