Don't Waste Your Life  by John Piper


This book can be a truly life changing experience. It rattles our entire view of Christian life from the inside out. This is a book that really forces the reader to reflect on what they value vs what God values. Does God simply want us to be comfortable with a good spouse, good kids, nice car, long weekends, a few good friends, a fun retirement, a quick and easy death and no hell? The answer is no. Our entire idea of the Christian life is flipped upside down as John Piper challenges Christians to seek within their hearts what God has planned for their life.

The first two chapters Piper prepares the reader with a biography and introduction to the idea of subjective and objective truth and existentialism in his life... but hang in there because by the end of the second chapter, Piper wastes no time challenging Christians with scripture that shows God's plan and idea of what truly living is all about.

Piper focuses on the "Cross of Christ" from which our joy and daily life of bearing fruit should derive from. He quotes 1 Peter 3:15 "always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within you.." and turns around and asks the question "do people see hope in your life by the way you live, or is your life so much like the world's that there isn't much of a difference".

If your looking for a book that will force you to look deep into your personal beliefs and question how far your willing to live out what you believe, this book is for you. At times it's not the easiest book to read... or understand. For me there where times I found myself re-reading pages over and over before the light bulb came on. Everything Piper talks about is very practical to the Christians everyday life. Take some time and pick up this book and hang on, because after reading "Don't waste your life", your life won't be the same. 

Scott Harris