Dont Waste Your Life by John Piper

Dont Waste Your Life Reviews

• 
  David Gregg

  It's a great book. It does what it does well, but it doesn't deal with the possible (or even, likely) reaction that people might have to it. That is, to draw their sense of approval and validation from how successful they feel they are at "not wasting" their life. 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). So if they aren't "successful," then they will be depressed. If they are "successful," then they will feel that all is well, but only because their identity and significance is attached to their performance. It can easily be a hidden lair of religion: a subtle snare of works-based righteousness. This is how "Don't Waste Your Life" almost ruined mine. I'm only now coming out of this myself.
  
  So, just remind yourself that your identity, significance, approval, validation, and justification come from Christ alone. You are loved and valued unconditionally. You don't have to justify your existence. You just have to live loved.
• 
  Billy

  This book will hit folks hard, for the better or for the worse...,
  
  I apologize for this long review. I feel very passionate about the subject covered in this book and I feel that I would be amiss if I did not state my humble opinion, pointed as it may be. So please forgive the loquacious effort that I humbly offer in hopes that others will read this book and find themselves changed for the better as I have.
  
  I found it very interesting to read through the fifty-something reviews on this book before writing this review. The catch with books like Mr. Piper's 'don't waste your life' is that it generally creates a very LARGE reaction in one of 2 extremes; convicting and life changing, or unmoving, condemning or perhaps hard to swallow. If someone who is not a christian, or perhaps not a member of the denomination of Mr. Piper (basically a Reformist), writes a review about this, chances are it won't be a good review, so that review isn't fair. If a believer, or a member of Mr. Piper's denomination writes a review, and they agree with the book, that review may not be fair.
  
  So... What to do...? My recommendation is enter with an open mind, finish the book, verifying or contradicting what you have read with scripture and arrive at the conclusion God has for you; you will find answers, you will spend time in the word of God, and you will grow closer to the Saviour. So that is a win for all, regardless.
  
  Now, as for the book, it is a clear presentation of what Mr. Piper believes we are able to do with Christ's promised assistance; live a life that is glorifying to God. How? Mr. Piper presents, and supports with scriputre, basic but difficult (because we are sinners) principles such as "only what's done for Christ will last", "learning the severe discipline of reading the bible", "loving people means pointing them to the all-satisfying God".
  
  Other principles suggested by Mr Piper for living a life that is glorifying to the Lord are, "Christ crucified, the blazing center of the glory of God" (John 3:16), "deserving nothing but inheriting everything-WHY?", "spreading a passion for Christ crucified-by teaching (in other words, we are called to explain, as Mr. Piper more eloquently states it, "live and speak in such a way that the worth of 'Christ Crucified' is seen and savored by more and more people."), "Magnify Christ through pain" (this was a very real subject for me as I have been out of work for 4 months with a back injury and just had spine surgery 2 weeks ago; and only by God's providence did my family survive this ordeal because worker's compensation rejected my claim and disability still hasn't kicked in, so I understand the concept of suffering (and I don't mean the physical pain, though that was not fun), I mean worry, stess, but then I come back to the Lord and pray and know that he will care for my family and provide a peace that is other-worldly {not a real word? hopefully you get the point} even as I was laid off because I couldn't work in a physical job during a recession that was hammering the company that I worked for; but the Lord still provides; my opportunity to witness to people based upon this experience has been dynamic and I thank the Lord for the grace that he gave me to speak up without fear).
  
  More concepts include "how is dying gain" (an understanding that death is the point at which we are united with our creator), "how we handle loss shows who our treasure is" (again, I have no income, but because of our struggles of the past few months, I understand that monetary gain is meant to bless others; I recommend Randy Alcorn's 'The Treasure Principle' regarding this topic), "there is a difference between sacrifice and suicide" (an interesting thought; Mr. Piper states "[it] is not wrong to pray for healing, to take medicine, to put locks on your doors, to flee unruly mobs...It is presumption to jump off the temple while quoting scriputre promises that God will catch you."; bascially, protect yourselves, trust in the Lord, but don't be ignorant to what God expects from us in caring for ourselves; the obvious exception here being the many missionaries who are specifically called to just such a dangerous life, but guided by the Lord, they are able to trust that He is in control of their life).
  
  The book is broken in to a Preface, 10 chapters, and a Final Note, all of which are seperated in to short, easily digestable sections. Mr. Piper does not cram anything down your throat as you read. It is a simple and straight-forward read. Everything is scripturally backed; verse references included. This is a study of what God has instructed each of us to do to glorify Him. We are called to live our lives for His glory; read the bible and you will see scriptures, chapters, books, Old and New Testament, explaining the Lord's plan for his children.
  
  As a believer, I found this book very encouraging and spiritually convicting; a microscope through which I saw where I can strive to do better in living my life for the glory of God. If one is not a believer, and I am not judging, I am attempting to see from a differnt angle how the book would be recieved, it might be a very difficult study of a "radical" faith; that seems to be what I remember thinking several years ago before accepting Christ.
  
  Cafeteria christians (a term that is harsh, but makes a point; those who pick and choose the parts of the bible that they like and leave out the rest so that life is easy for them) may also have a problem with this book as it is a call to arms, a wake-up call, a blaring reminder that we are here on this earth for a greater purpose than to serve ourselves. We are all sinners. We are born sinners. We remain sinners until death. The only thing that saves us is the exceptional grace of a God that loves his creation despite the fact that we have turned our backs on him in search of our own gain; Harsh?, yes! True?, yes! And I am guilty of it myself. Because even after we accept Christ, we continue to sin. Only upon entry in to heaven will we cease to sin, so perhaps its not so harsh a term after all, just true. But again, not judgement. I am the worst of sinners and dare not point out sin in others that I am not committed to doing so with.
  
  A few final thoughts. I could write every concept, every principle, every chapter title, but that would really get old. I will sum up this review with a few interesting facts and personal thoughts about the book.
  
  Mr. Piper thoughtfully places each principle in a understandable, real-life, human-experience, 'been-there-done-that', light, with personal anecdotes, testimonies from believers, and quotes from many current church leaders and authors of differing denominations who present their ministry through written word tactfully and with the same biblically-sound, scripturally-based, Christ-glorifying, humility as Mr. Piper.
  
  Many of the quotes transcribed within this book come from many of histories best known authors and theologians. Some of these men are:
  C.S. Lewis, Oxford shcolar and author extroidinaire, writer of the Christ-analogous 'The Chronicles of Narnia' as well as many biblically-centerd, scripturally-based, studies such as ''C.S. Lewis & the Search for Rational Religion', 'Mere Christianity', ''Surprised by Joy', and 'Christian Reflections', to name a few.
  
  John Bunyan was a man who spent 12 years in prison because he would not agree to stop preaching. What a sacrifice for the Lord's ministry; Bunyan wrote of the experience, "[the] parting with my wife and poor children hath often been to me in this place as the pulling of Flesh from my bones." I can empathize, on a smaller scale, not having been in prison, but having faced a similar decision 3 years ago; God or my family. My wife threatened to leave after I was saved because she didn't understand, but God, in his grace, saved my marriage when it was on the brink of shattering and brought my wife in to his fold and we just recently celebrated our 10th anniversary, and I still have my 2 beautiful daughters with me every day, praise be to God.
  Bunyan would go on to pen one of the best known works of fiction ever written, some do not even realize that, as with Lewis' 'Chronicles', the work is a parable, a personification of christian faith, suffering and, ultimate victory; the book was 'The Pilgrim's Progress'. Bunyan would, again like Lewis, author many sound and biblical studies such as 'Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners' and 'Seasonable Counsels, or Advice to Sufferers'.
  
  Jonathan Edwards is quoted several times. Edwards was a 18th century preacher and theologian (and, FYI, one time president of Princeton University). He has so many published works that there are literally volumes of his writings and transcripts of sermons which provide an interesting glimpse in to the world of reformists in the early days of the United States.
  
  I believe that the greatest disagreements and the biggest complaints about this book fall right here, under Reformation theories such as 'Predestination', 'Total Depravity', or the like. Certainly, churches must have doctrine, it is a requirement (perhaps consequence is a better word) of fallen man, but the doctrines have become so intensely opposed denominationally that God is actually lost in the midst of disagreement. It is sad that the Church (as in the world-wide body of Christ) should have so many disagreements when we are all so fortunate as to be saved; Christ bought OUR salvation by suffering OUR punishment on Calvary, why on earth do WE get lost in doctrine and dogma. Unfortunately, as sinners, we have allowed doctrine, which is authored by man alone, to override scripture, which was penned as inspired by God. We allow our arrogance to close our minds to Christ's mission; it is not about denomination, doctrine or dogma, rather, it is about saving as many souls as possible from eternal seperation from the Creator.
  
  Finally, and again controversially (as with Edwards, probably a great reason for disagreement with what is presented herein), we have many quotes from the man who led the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther.
  
  So, to finally sum up (and thank you to those who actually read my lengthy, heart-felt testimony) I believe that this book holds a great many truths that will inspire open hearts to serve the Lord with more fervor, love and grace.
  
  Honestly, having read the other reviews, I can't understand why people of different faiths would review this book, although I am glad they read it. I might read a book about atheists or agnostics in order to understand why they believe what they believe, but I wouldn't write a review and criticise the book based on my differing religious beliefs. That seems a bit unfair; but, who ever said life would be fair.
• 
  Rosa

  I'll admit I couldn't finish this book. But from the beginning, I was deeply disturbed by its pretentiousness:
  
  "I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. 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. 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. See my shells.' That is a tragedy."
  
  Let me tell you what pretentiousness is. I will show you how to cast judgment on someone. 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. *gasp* The gall! How dare they collect shells and appreciate natural beauty!
  
  Okay, I may be nitpicking, but I find it unfair that Piper is condemning these people. 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. I'm speculating, of course, they could be assholes who do nothing beneficial to society at all. BUT I don't know them, and neither does Piper.
  
  Let me tell you what wasting your time is. It's reading this book.
• 
  Natalie Vellacott

  I'm not a huge Piper fan which in some circles is tantamount to blasphemy. I don't agree with his Christian hedonism principle--it seems to me to be self-focused rather than God focused.
  
  However, this book is a helpful reminder that our lives should be used for the glory of God. We are always on duty in His service and cannot afford to waste our time.
  
  Recommended.
• 
  Debra

  I can't bring myself to finish this book. I don't want to waste my life on reading it.
  
  While I think the idea of the message is good, the actual message and delivery is not. I found it difficult to understand in places and very repetitive. I'm pretty sure it's geared toward new young Christians, but there are so many other books that do a better job at presenting this message.
  
  I was also feeling a sort of condemnation or legalism that I couldn't quite put my finger on to explain until I read someone else's review.
  
  This is what the other reviewer said, "it doesn't deal with the possible (or even, likely) reaction that people might have to it. That is, to draw their sense of approval and validation from how successful they feel they are at "not wasting" their life. 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). So if they aren't "successful," then they will be depressed. If they are "successful," then they will feel that all is well, but only because their identity and significance is attached to their performance. It can easily be a hidden lair of religion: a subtle snare of works-based righteousness."
  
  This book was making me feel as if I'm falling short, when in fact, I'm pretty sure I'm not. That's not freedom or joy.
• 
  Mary

  I so enjoyed reading this while in Kenya. Beth Mixon, Sara's good friend who gave up her bed so I had a place to sleep, had this book on her shelf. Since it had been recommended to me by my son Ben and I have enjoyed Piper's work before I went for it. The chapter on "Risk is Right" was superb and reminded me that to risk it all for the kingdom pays BIG TIME. Not a bad return, given the current market crash. I am quite certain that when I think of risk I am thinking of different things than Ben. I was challanged as to what it means to risk at different stages of life. 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. 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. 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 at a different life stage it means having another baby when the world seems in such lousy shape. Risk may be such different things at different life stages. It is a risk to stay home with children for women who struggled to become competent at a career, it is a risk to REALLY BE what GOD CALLS ME TO BE, whatever my age or life ;stage, because he does not call to mediocrity but to excellence. Being HIS head, and heart, and hands, so often does not look important. I remember well my diaper days, when faithful service was a risk of a positive attitude with mundane tasks, when risk was moving to stay married and hoping God would still show up in a forsaken desert. Now risk is looking different. But one thing has not changed, it is not comfortable. Risking always makes me suck in my breath, and ask myself, "Can I trust God with even this?" The advantage of age and grey hair (and yes you get it from your kids) is I can afirm, God always shows up and it is always worth the risk.
• 
  Silvia Maria

  I know this is a hot take but pls hear me out!!
  Disclaimer: I recognize that I have zero credibility but here I am writing my opinion anyways hahaha.
  The points and topics discussed in this book are GOOD and TRUE! In fact, I really would have enjoyed this if it were in the form of a podcast or sermon or lecture etc. But this is a book. I strongly believe that there is a big need for good & talented Christian writers. The art of storytelling (or the art of engaging the reader) should still be a thing in Christian books!!!! There were countless times where Piper chose to “tell” instead of “show” and there were SO MANY opportunities for good storytelling that Piper simply did not take.
  
  The point of reading a book instead of watching the movie/ a different medium is because reading a book should provide a much more intimate and personal experience. Books should take the reader on a journey. However, it is after reading books like these where I truly feel as though there was absolutely no advantage in reading the book over listening to a podcast/reading a bullet point summary/ listening to a sermon with the same material. Again, the content of this book is good and interesting but the way it was communicated just felt like a typed out ~not so engaging~ scripted sermon.
  
  Also, it was really hard reading this right after “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis because it highlighted how brilliant Lewis’ writing is and how much Piper’s argumentation methods contrasts to Lewis’. Instead of inviting us into Piper’s thought process, it felt as if I was just told what to think. I also wish Piper would have acknowledged and tackled counter-arguments. I struggled to understand the structure/ order of this book even though Piper’s style of writing itself is very formal and structured; it was hard to see how the different parts fit together. It was hard to identify a strong/moving/compelling central theme or thread.
  
  Overall, just because a book has good (or even great) and true content, does not mean that the book itself is good. That said, a low rating does not mean that I oppose the points made in this book but rather that I do not think that this is good writing.
  
  It is so important to popularize Christian books that convey Truth in a compelling ways. In ways that challenge the reader and that invite the reader into an intimate experience with God. I have no doubt that this book and many others do indeed provide this experience for people; however, I think that we are setting the bar too low for trendy “must-read” Christian books, I’ll say it!!
• 
  Noai Leidenfrost

  Amazing! everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy and be challenged by this book. Life changing
  
  some quotes:
  "God created me - and you - to live with a single, all-embracing, all-transforming passion - namely, a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life." - p31
  
  The opposite of wasting your life is to live by a single, soul-satisfying passion for the supremacy of God in all things." - p43
  
  "the people that make a durable difference in the world are not the people who have mastered many things, but who have been mastered by one great thing. p 44
  
  "Therefore every good thing in life, and every bad thing that God turns for good, is a blood-bought gift. And all boasting - all exultation - should be boasting in the cross." -p54
  
  "Christ crucified, the Giver, satisfies. -p 58
  
  "And thus a cross-centered, cross exalting, cross-saturated life is a God-glorifying life - the only God-glorifying life. All others are wasted. - 59
  
  "If we do not embrace the path of joy-laden, painful love, we will waste our lives. - 63
  
  "if we know how to die well, we will know how to live well. -p64
  
  "The essence of praising Christ is prizing Christ." - 68
  
  "If we only trust Christ to give us gifts and not himself as the all-satisfying gift, then we do not trust him in a way tha thonors him as our treasure. - 70
  
  "This hope that grows and deepens and satisfies through suffering is the hope of verse 2, the 'hope of the glory of God.' We were made to see and savor this glory. And God, in love, will use whatever trials are necessary to intensify our savoring of his glory. -74
  
  "To make others glad in God with an everlasting gladness, our lives must show that hi is more precious than life. - p107
  
  "The better questions to ask about possible behaviors is: How will this help me treasure Christ more? How will it help me show that I do treasure Christ? How will it help me to know Christ or display Christ? - p119
  
  "Let me come to the end - whether soon or late - and be able to say to a family, a church, a city, and the unreached peoples of the earth, 'for your tomorrow, I gave my today. Not just for your tomorrow on earth, but for the countless tomorrows of your ever-increasing gladness in God.'" p 124
  
  " You don't waste your life by where you work, but how and why. - p132
  
  "Love always wants what is best for the needy, and what's best is enjoying God fully and forever p 159
• 
  Harper Nicole

  You know, this is one of those books where you put an inspiring quote at the top of the review, but there are just TOO MANY in this book!
  
  I don't know how many sermons I've heard of my pastor's where he used the snippet on the back of the book as an example. Yeah. I loved this book. It got me out of a rough time and taught me so much. I feel like this is a must-read for every Christian! The wisdom of John Piper is incredible! I loved every moment about it! It will change your life!
  
  Thanks so much to my dad for reading this with me! I hope it's blessed you as much as it blessed me!
• 
  Aurimas Gudas

  "O, kaip jis maldaudavo! Vaikų, paauglių, jaunuolių, sutuoktinių, vidutinio ir senyvo amžiaus žmonių – kiekvieno širdyje išdegindavo Kristaus perspėjimus ir maldavimus. Kiekvienai amžiaus grupei turėjo paruošęs istorijų, daugybę istorijų – apie šlovingus atsivertimus ir apie tai, kad, atsisakę tikėti, kai kurie tragiškai žūdavo. Tos istorijos retai apsieidavo be ašarų. Man, kaip berniukui, įdomiausias iš pavyzdžių, kurių griebdavosi įsiaudrinęs tėvas, buvo istorija apie senyvame amžiuje atsivertusi vyriškį. Bažnyčia meldėsi už jį dešimtmečius. Jis buvo kietas ir nepalaužiamas. Bet tąkart, kai pamokslavo mano tėvas, kažkodėl jis pasirodė. Pamaldų pabaigoje giedant himną, vyriškis visų nuostabai išėjo į priekį ir paėmė mano tėvą už rankos. Žmonėms išsiskirsčius jiedu atsisėdo pirmame bažnyčios suole. Dievas atvėrė to vyriškio širdį Kristaus Evangelijai, jis buvo išgelbėtas nuo savo nuodėmių ir gavo amžinąjį gyvenimą. Bet ašaros vis tiek riedėjo jo raukšlėtais skruostais ir jis nepaliaudamas vis kartojo: „Aš jį iššvaisčiau! Aš jį iššvaisčiau!“ O kokį poveikį tai darė man, kai girdėjau savo tėvą per ašaras pasakojant šią istoriją. Ši istorija apie senyvą vyriškį, raudojusį dėl iššvaistyto gyvenimo, mane jaudino labiau negu visos kitos istorijos apie jaunus žmones, kurie taip ir neatsivertę žūdavo automobilių avarijose. Tais ankstyvaisiais metais Dievas sužadino manyje baimę ir aistrą neiššvaistyti savo gyvenimo. Mintis sulaukti senyvo amžiaus ir per ašaras kartoti: „Aš jį iššvaisčiau! Aš jį iššvaisčiau!“ man kėlė siaubą.“
• 
  Beth McCallum

  I have no motivation to finish this book. I made it about 56% through and then lost all will. Although I'm super Piper's intentions are good and that the overall message of this book would be purposeful to some, I find John Piper condemning, rude and a bit self-righteous. He only talks about his own experiences to show an example of what it's like to really live for God and I'm not a fan of that. Other people have written good reviews on his condemnation of the couple that like collecting shells and playing softball. What's wrong with that? John Piper, have you seen their heart for God? No, only God has. It says multiple times in the bible not to judge people.
  
  Also, there is no practical advice for someone that is not an active and paid member in a church. What about the rest of us who do normal things and work alongside normal people? John Piper constantly talks about how his life is not a waste because he preaches and writes books amongst other spiritual tasks. Some of us don't have that privilege. Some of us have to seek out God in days where we have hardly any minutes left to eat, sleep, take care of ourselves, see our family. Some of us find simply spending time with God hard.
  
  Anyway, I gave up. There are a lot better Christian books and devotions out there that offer me more than Piper does.
• 
  Addy S.

  Absolutely incredible. John Piper never ceases to amaze me.
• 
  Rachel

  Overall content is Christ-centered and wonderful. However the book is very repetitive.
• 
  Eric

  If Christ is an all-satisfying treasure and promises to provide all our needs, even through famine and nakedness, then to live as though we had all the same values as the world would betray him.
  
  An excellent start to 2017, and a great companion piece to another work I'm reading currently,
  The Cost of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
  
  I first discovered John Piper just over a decade ago, while working at a 3-day concert event with a local radio station. One of the many other stations was giving away copies of a CD called Light + Heat, which included eight of his sermons. Each of the sermons was a variation on the theme of 'not wasting your life'. He discussed the importance of ensuring that we, as those who believe that Christ died for our sins, are representing that belief to the world in a life of selflessness, sacrifice, and example, rather than just fading and blending in with the exact same desires as everyone else. He spoke powerfully, convincingly, and passionately. Listening to those messages stirred something in me that I'm not sure wasn't entirely dormant, and forced me to reexamine my own life in light of what he was suggesting, and what was required of me. If I really believed what I believe to be true then am I really living that in my life? If not, then what do I need to do to change it? What must I lay down of my own interests and desires in order to more exemplify my hope in Christ. This book, as one would expect from the title, is an address to just this problem.
  
  I appreciate Piper's stoic and humble approach in his sermons, the weight of his messages, and his call to action. Each of these is present here, and many of the same stories I originally heard on that CD are used in the many chapters that start with his own mission to find a single passion in which to live by, continues to the justification of that pursuit as laid out by God Himself in the bible, and concludes with a call for self-examination, sacrifice, and the call to missions both here at home and to people that don't know the hope that lives in you. He quotes a great number of historic theologians and apologists, including C. S. Lewis, Jonathon Edwards, and Martin Luther, along with several modern writers commenting on life in America today. It's an amalgamation of the great calling to forego self, and to pursue God.
  
  Some may be concerned that this book may lead to a 'works-based righteousness' approach; that not wasting your life means that you need to be doing more, more, more for God. In reality, the book discusses the dangers of that exact type of approach, just how worthless it is, how our own acts of goodness, when offered to God as some form of gift or offering, have no value. When those deeds are carried out as a glorification of God, however, rather than something to 'offer' Him, it is the exact same mission that Christ calls us to. Our hope is in Christ, His gift to us is not something we can gain or pay back, and therefore our deeds are born of an honoring rather than as an earning. When people look to us and wonder what it is that allows us to forego the aims and conventions of society and live selflessly, that is when the proper questions begin getting asked of us. "Why do you live in such a way? What are you aiming to do? Why don't you care about things other people spend so much time fretting over?" When we live as examples, then are glorifying the one who created us, and in doing so serving as living examples.
  
  To do this we must make sacrificial life choices rooted in the assurance that magnifying Christ through generosity and mercy is more satisfying than selfishness.
  
  What cannot be overlooked in this call to sacrifice one's self and the pleasures we are inherently interested in chasing, is the perfect contentment and joy that comes with the expulsion of our inbred worldly pursuits when exchanged for living in the manner God would have us. We are called to 'sacrifice', and to'suffer', and this takes several forms. By the world's standards (cultural and societal norms) if we are less interested in building our own personal kingdoms of security and pleasure, and more interested in reaching forth to others, at our own expense, it can be perceived as a form of suffering. Perhaps, instead of binge watching Netflix for hundreds of hours every year, we must 'sacrifice' and 'suffer' so that we can teach ourselves valuable skills that are usable for our community, or in building others up educationally, intellectually, and spiritually. Perhaps we decide to learn woodworking, or begin tutoring, or learn a new language, or learn how to prepare food, all so that we can serve those around us, and exemplify that our hope is not in sterile and fleeting entertainments, or in our own financial security. In doing so, we must be careful not to help others build their own personal kingdoms at the expense of our own. Our aim is not to assist in another's distancing from the knowledge and self-satisfaction of God, but to build them up in it so that they, too, will be used and empowered to leave these artificial joys behind and become a force of His hands in a hurting world that needs them so.
  
  To leave that word of suffering there, however, is to also deny the inherent risk of doing God's work will cause. The world does not take kindly to those living outside of its requests on us. Here, in America, you may face the lowest and shallowest forms of persecution: mockery, slander, and ridicule. These forms can take their toll mentally, or emotionally, or even physically, so we must stand strong in our convictions. In countries where talking about your hope in Christ is illegal it can get you imprisoned or even executed. This sacrifice of living for Christ does not come without cost, but to do so is to gain something far, far greater than the niceties of living that will be taken from you upon your death anyway.
  
  If Christ is an all-satisfying treasure and promises to provide all our needs, even through famine and nakedness, then to live as though we had all the same values as the world would betray him.
  
  This 'suffering' of personal status, character, and wealth, goes only so far as the world. We are not to seek fame, or prideful earnings, or wealth, or status, or the pleasures that can bring ruin. These things are advertised into our world relentlessly here in America. We are bombarded with a message that says that we should focus on ourselves and what makes us happy. All the temporary economic kingdoms of this world are lined up to take our money and our time, and our minds, just so that we can have and experience a temporary enjoyment that may not last for months, let alone years. New cars, new clothes, sex, drugs, the latest television show, the newest diet, hundreds of financial security investments, new technology, updates, and promos and sweepstakes and contests and vacations-- a never ending tide of novelty, temporary pleasure, and mediocrity. So much noise promising fun and escape, but not enough to drown out the mass shootings, or opioid epidemic, or the mass political divide, or terrorism, domestic violence and abuses, racism, bigotry, etc. This pleasure we are seeking is its own drug, its own temporary and unnatural escape from a world drowning in its own depravity. It is not our call to seek after such insignificant wealth, or passing pleasure. We are to seek the very source of joy and pleasure and to enjoy it to its fullest, but we cannot seek both at the same time.
  
  ...if we look like our lives are devoted to getting and maintaining things, we will look like the world, and that will not make Christ look great.
  
  This review has become far longer than I originally intended, though I do hope that I presented the summary of the message of this book without presenting it in any light that may turn off the interested reader. It is an excellent book, and a fantastic companion piece to The Cost of Discipleship. Bonhoeffer's approach is, at least up to this point, a great self-examination of the individual who wishes to find themselves as a disciple of Christ, whereas Piper's approach is to confront the American ideal and contrast that with the life that Christ calls us to. We cannot pursue both, as one cannot serve two masters. Don't Waste Your Life is a strong message, and one that needs to be echoed in a society that prides itself, unconsciously, on its gratuitous wealth, always seeking for more. I'd suggest reading it alongside Bonhoeffer, and spending time with the two books, even in a study group. Each are filled with wisdom, inspiration, and hope.
  
  May the cross of Christ be your only boast, and may you say, with sweet confidence, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
• 
  Amelie

  ”You sent your Son, the blazing center of your beauty and your love…For what? To swallow up your wrath, and satisfy your righteousness, and bury all my sins as far as east is from the west and in the deepest sea, so that I might come home and see the galaxy. This is your love, oh, God, not to make much of me, but do whatever must be done so that I waken to the joy of making much of you through all eternity.”
  
  Convicting, Scripture-saturated, engaging, and deeply thought-provoking.
  
  By God’s grace alone, may I remember what true love is and live with ever-present gladness to make others glad in Him. By his strength alone that he lavishes upon us, may I not waste my life.
  
  Through His love, I have come home to behold the galaxy. There is One alone worthy of our deepest allegiance, and He is glorious.
• 
  Maddie

  Loved this book. What a challenge it is to die to a worldly life and live a life focused on Christ. Chapter 7 was particularly impactful to me. Piper talks about materialism and possessions and their pointlessness in the bigger picture of life. After reading this book I know there are definite changes I need to make in my life! Let us not waste our lives, but be able to say that “to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
• 
  David Newton

  It’s so refreshing to be confronted by Piper’s lack of sympathy for Christians preoccupied with comfort and security. I say that as someone who needs to hear this message regularly. Yet his focus is always on Christ, providing guardrails keeping me from pursuing righteousness through asceticism.
  
  His primary admonition is not to exercise stronger self-denial and discipline, but to have open eyes to a far greater glory worth living and dying for. I’m thankful for someone who has this vision for the church and wants to share the joys of Christian Hedonism.
• 
  Shelly

  Go to the best school you can. Get the job that makes the most money possible. Retire early. Spend the rest of your life "Doing what you want to do"-----collecting antiques, going on cruises, woodworking.
  
  None of these things are bad in and of themselves. But is that all life is intended to be? Is that the way God designed living our life here on earth to look like?
  
  John Piper, in the book Don't Waste Your Life, takes issue with the prevailing thoughts that life is primarily for our enjoyment. Instead, Piper pleads with his readers to "Make much of God"; that the joy that doing so creates, as well as the grace that we don't deserve, should lead the believer to be willing to risk all for Christ.
  
  I was personally very taken by the story related in this book about Adinoram Judson, who, with his young bride, left the United States to serve God in Burma, only returning one time. That sort of risk of life and wealth and the Western definition of (pseudo)-"happiness" and satisfaction seems to carry with it the kind of lasting contentedness that acknowledges that we are but sojourners in this life on earth-that our home is not here but eternally with God our father.
  
  In reading this book, I have been reminded of a verse that has come to have a great deal of meaning to me personally. Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 4:17-18:
  
  
  17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
  
  But until that day when the eternal weight of glory is realized and attained, we are to live in this world. But will our time here be wasted in vain pursuits? In gaining all the "glory" we can gain here on this earth? All the money, the cars, the vacations? Piper urges his readers to evaluate their lives, to give thought to what really matters. To realize that we may be called to give everything--including our lives--in order to make much of God. And that to make much of God is the reason why we were created.
• 
  Nick

  I started this book back in '07 when I was looking for answers in my calling. God used it to verify to me that I did need to go to seminary. As soon as I got that answer, I stopped reading the book. I'm not sure why.
  
  It might have been so that God could use it to help me at this point in my journey. It was a great reminder that Christ is the blazing center and if I work for towards anything else it is a wasted life.
• 
  Austin Harris

  I gave this book as a gift to my graduating seniors. I encourage any to think of this as a good book for those making that transition. Piper writes with great conviction and ends with a great plea!
• 
  Traci

  This book got me by the preface. I originally picked it up at the library, b/c I RARELY purchase a book. Well, I got so sucked in to it that I had to buy it and sit with a pencil or highlighter b/c so much of this book hit home.
  
  I'm the woman with a college degree not being used, work experience in telecom which barely exists anymore (and which I'm terribly underexperienced for), a mom wanting to be here for my kids--their homework challenges, their activities, their lives--a substitute teacher who was thinking about grad school but just not sure which way to go.
  
  I've never been the kind of person to sit around and do nothing. Life is too short for that. Even to just read a good book. This book was a fantastic reminder that I'm so much more than what I do. ("Work with an eye not mainly to your money, but your usefulness. Work with a view to benefiting people with what you make or do.") I realized that it's not so much what I'm earning, or even specifically what I'm doing. It's so much more. And my life has meaning...and it's not wasted!
  
  And as a mother, I found so many wonderfully powerful quotes that I couldn't simply pass over without meditating on them a bit more. For example, "We are taught in a thousand ways that love means increasing someone's self-esteem. Love is helping someone feel good about themselves. Love is giving someone a mirror and helping him like what he sees. This is not what (is meant) by love...Love is doing what is best for someone."
  
  Highly recommended!
• 
  Meredithie

  I can't actually rate this because I didn't finish, but I wanted to acknowledge that I did get half-way through. I gained a lot of insight into the Bible about God's glory, our glory in God's glory, and many other VERY important aspects of the Christian faith. But it was just too over my head and I was not getting most of it. It took me over a month to even get half-way through. This is the second time I've had to stop reading a John Piper book because of this same thing. It's too complex for me - his style isn't digestible for me. It's just like I'm chewing and chewing and chewing but making no progress. I had to let it go. But it is intelligent and Biblically sound. I'd recommend it if you can get through dense and convoluted writing. And I don't mean that as a put-down of the book, but it is convoluted writing and, for me, it became tiresome. I don't want to have to keep re-reading a paragraph 8 times before I sort of understand what the author is saying. It took far too much brain power for me. But John Piper is a brilliant man, he just needs to make his stuff more accessible to us everyday folk :)
• 
  Levi Pierpont

  The most I remember from this book is John Piper retirement-shaming people because apparently picking up seashells on a beach is not an acceptable activity and also he took an article he read too literally and thought that was actually all that this couple was going to do the rest of their life.
  
  Also, Evangelical authors need to lay off on the "if you're not a pastor, you're wasting your life" messaging. It's kind of like Evangelicals who don't approve of people working secular jobs on Sunday. It's like, you do realize, some people have to work on Sunday/not be a pastor for society to run. (As an aside, if you wouldn't let your children work on Sundays, don't frequent any businesses on Sundays.)
  
  Basically, this is just another book where an Evangelical tells us how he thinks we should live our life, but he says it's actually how G-d wants us to live our life, and if we don't follow and get in line, G-d will be very angry with us and we will be depressed.
• 
  Tim

  I tried to like this book, I really did. But Piper's writing style is just terrible. He wanders all over the place throughout the book, and for some reason decided that every few paragraphs should be broken up into separately titled, yet seemingly unrelated sections. It makes the reading frustratingly choppy in what appears to be a failed attempt at making the book readable for poor readers.
  
  There is some good material and occasional good thoughts spread throughout, but as a whole it is repetitive and dull. Piper seems to fall into a legalistic view of Christianity, the very thing he spends so much time condemning.
  
• 
  Mazzy Mitchell

  It was ok. There's really nothing new in it, and I'm not sure what to blame it on, but I've gotten all of this from other books or resources (Desiring God, John Piper's website, for one). It might be a more engaging read for some but I found it rather dry. Not to say that its message is dry, but the presentation is lackluster to me. I've never particularly enjoyed Piper's writing anyway. I think he could state his point more simply in a lot of cases.
• 
  Alanne

  "Quem tem posto a mão no arado, não pode mais olhar pra trás." Um livro que muito nos desafia a parar de viver uma vida cristã rasa, e não jogarmos nossa vida fora, por amor ao Senhor e aos perdidos. Que possamos dizer a aqueles que não conhecem a Cristo: "Pelo seu amanhã, eu dei o meu hoje. Não só para o seu amanhã na terra, mas para os incontavéis amanhãs de sua alegria sempre crescente em Deus". "Fiel é o que vos chama, o qual também o fará." 1 Ts 5:24.
• 
  Riley Shenk

  The first half is very dense but definitely good. The second half was incredibly thought provoking
• 
  allison riera :)

  WOW. this book was so powerful and blunt and convicting. definitely forced me to reevaluate how i spend my time.
  
  definitely would recommend. :)
• 
  Natalie Bonura

  So thankful for the truths in this book. This is a must read for every Christian.