![]() Risk may be such different things at different life stages. Maybe at a different life stage it means having another baby when the world seems in such lousy shape. Maybe for me the biggest risk is to say to God you get to choose about my future, even when you know a part of my heart is planted in Africa and has been for a very long time. Maybe to risk means saying "God do whatever it takes" to keep me close to you, knowing from past experience how much that might hurt, maybe for someone who is such a "doer" like me it means the discipline of "listening" to God and others. At my stage to risk means being humbled by "starting over" for example if God calls me back to clinical practice-after 10 years in research- stuff that seems daunting but wonderful too. I was challanged as to what it means to risk at different stages of life. I am quite certain that when I think of risk I am thinking of different things than Ben. Not a bad return, given the current market crash. The chapter on "Risk is Right" was superb and reminded me that to risk it all for the kingdom pays BIG TIME. Since it had been recommended to me by my son Ben and I have enjoyed Piper's work before I went for it. Beth Mixon, Sara's good friend who gave up her bed so I had a place to sleep, had this book on her shelf. I so enjoyed reading this while in Kenya. Let me tell you what wasting your time is. BUT I don't know them, and neither does Piper. I'm speculating, of course, they could be assholes who do nothing beneficial to society at all. What's wrong with collecting shells? Also, how does he know that these people aren't doing some real good in their community, being kind and generous, offering a listening ear to lonely people, nurturing healthy relationships with their neighbors, etc. Okay, I may be nitpicking, but I find it unfair that Piper is condemning these people. *gasp* The gall! How dare they collect shells and appreciate natural beauty! Consider a book that takes a blurb from Readers Digest and shines a spotlight on the couple from the story to its audience, asserting that this couple is committing a deep tragedy by collecting shells. I will show you how to cast judgment on someone. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.' Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: 'Look, Lord. Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader's Digest: A couple 'took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. But from the beginning, I was deeply disturbed by its pretentiousness: You don't have to justify your existence. You are loved and valued unconditionally. So, just remind yourself that your identity, significance, approval, validation, and justification come from Christ alone. This is how "Don't Waste Your Life" almost ruined mine. ![]() It can easily be a hidden lair of religion: a subtle snare of works-based righteousness. If they are "successful," then they will feel that all is well, but only because their identity and significance is attached to their performance. So if they aren't "successful," then they will be depressed. If they aren't what they consider to be successful at this, then they will feel less approved or loved by God (even if they know intellectually that isn't true). That is, to draw their sense of approval and validation from how successful they feel they are at "not wasting" their life. It does what it does well, but it doesn't deal with the possible (or even, likely) reaction that people might have to it. If you believe that to live is Christ and to die is gain, read this book, learn to live for Christ, and don't waste your life! It will challenge you to live and die boasting in the cross of Christ and making the glory of God your singular passion. This book will warn you not to get caught up in a life that counts for nothing. Most people slip by in life without a passion for God, spending their lives on trivial diversions, living for comfort and pleasure, and perhaps trying to avoid sin. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives." The wasted life is the life without this passion. "God created us to live with a single passion to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. John Piper writes, "I will tell you what a tragedy is.
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