Book Recommendation by Meghan Mellinger

March 11, 2019
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Last February I had the chance to join Jared on a trip he was taking to Texas, which afforded me some uninterrupted reading time. I was able to read two books in the span of four days…something that never happens in the course of my “normal” life! One of the books I read was called Made for More: An Invitation to Live in God’s Image by Hannah Anderson. I found it to be a thought-provoking and encouraging read so I wanted to share it with you all.

Made for More is a book that looks at what it means to be made in the image of God and makes particular application to women. Anderson’s goal in the book is to help us as women find our core identity in being image-bearers of our God, and not in the various (and important) roles that we can take on as women.

While I enjoyed the entire book, I found two particular chapters to be especially helpful. In the chapter entitled “Lady Wisdom” (chapter 7), Hannah takes a look at how being image-bearers involves pursuing knowledge and education. What I love about this chapter is the way she emphasizes that growing in knowledge has value because it’s being like our Creator, not just because it lands us in a particular career. She writes, “But what if education–what if learning and thinking and knowing–is less about what you do with your knowledge than it is about the person you become in the process? What if learning is less about how to make a living and more about how to live?” That inspires life-long learning, doesn’t it?!

The other chapter I found especially enjoyable is entitled “Queens in Narnia” (chapter 8). Here Hannah talks about work as another means that we image forth our God. Just as with knowledge, her approach here is holistic and broad-viewed. In this chapter she touches on work and home, reminding us of the real value to be found in our work regardless of whether or not we are paid for it: “When we define work in terms of salary and position instead of in terms of gifting and service, we communicate that anyone not drawing a salary or working in the marketplace is somehow less human.” So she encourages us to define a woman’s work, not by where she works (in the home or in the marketplace), but rather in whose image she works.

I hope this gives you a sampling of what Made for More has to offer. It is a great book to pick up if you want to explore further the implications of what it means to be made in the image of God.

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