"It was not always plain to me that pursuing God's glory would be virtually the same as pursuing my joy. Now I see that millions of people waste their lives because they think these paths are two and not one."

So begins Piper's introduction to a book that can lead you to deep self-examination and redirect your thinking about the rest of the days of your life. Balancing a treasure trove of scriptures that convict, give hope, and encourage us onward, Piper lays out with clarity, Christ's call to joyful, intimacy in a purposeful life which makes much of Christ and little of ourselves, to the glory of God.

Beautifully written, Piper fans will hear his passionate voice as he pleads with us for our good. Choose death to self and a life of sweet communion with Christ in order to glorify God fully, AND find your own ultimate, unspeakable, matchless joy at the same time!

A Wasted Life?
Piper's pressing quest for purpose in his own life began in childhood, when he became haunted by the prospect of reaching the end of his life, only to look back and cry, "I've wasted it, I've wasted it!" His story is a beautiful picture of God transforming a child's yearning into a grown man's life passion. This chapter will give you new perspective as you look back over your years past, and look forward with renewed spiritual vigor and intention.

After years of turmoil, the author discovered that ultimate reality rested solely on the Word of God, and his impetus became the verse, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of truth." What would it mean then to waste our lives? How could we know for sure? Was man intended to enjoy a good life, a good marriage, home, loving children, success OR was he meant solely to glorify God as the Scripture says so plainly? Did it have to be either/or? Would a total commitment to one negate the other?

"Unspoken for years, there was in me the feeling that these two were at odds. Either your glorify God OR you pursue happiness."

A New Perspective
Piper came to grips with an entirely new perspective while studying the writings of great theologians. Jonathan Edwards great intellect and spiritual wisdom impressed him in his study. Edwards said, "God’s purpose for my life was that I have a passion for God's glory and that I have a passion for my joy in that glory, and that these two are one passion." Could it be that ultimate joy, happiness, success, and the complete satisfaction that man yearned for could be found in being completely abandoned to glorifying God in all things, but truly could be found ONLY in doing so? Piper will take you on a step-by-step journey through the scriptures that will leave no doubt in your mind.

Piper's passion, prayer, and plea for the Holy Spirit to persuade you by the Word of God alone will at times leave you convicted to the quick and yet weeping with joy. "... when you put your trust in Christ, your bondage to the world and its overpowering lure is broken ..." "Every legitimate pleasure in the world becomes an occasion of boasting in the cross."

A Risk Taking Perspective
Piper encourages both a war mentality and a risk-taking perspective in our walk with Christ, for we are living in the midst of a great and ultimate battle in which there are weapons to be funded and risks to be taken.

"One of my aims is to deliver you from the enchantment of security. Because it’s a mirage. It doesn't exist."

The truth is that following Christ diligently is costly. It requires death to the self. It may cost pain and death.

Yet, it is in that very dying to self, and living for His glory alone, that God is most magnified through us to a lost world and also most enjoyed!

It is "a tragic waste when people turn away from the Calvary road of love and suffering. All the riches of the glory of God in Christ are on that road. All the sweetest fellowship with Jesus is there. All the treasures of assurance. All the ecstasies of joy. All the clearest sightings of eternity. All the noblest camaraderie. All the humblest affections. All the most tender acts of forgiving kindness. All the deepest discoveries of God’s Word. All the most earnest prayers. They are all on the Calvary road where Jesus walks with his people. Take up your cross and follow Jesus. On this road, and on this road alone, life is Christ and death is gain. Life on every other road is wasted."

A Clear Choice Piper presents a clear choice: live for self (or family, or success, or pleasure or any other idol) in the fantasy of safety and security, risking little, AND thereby waste your life, or live a life of radical obedience and joy walking humbly and intimately with Him, strengthened in trials and joyfully satisfied in obedience, rejoicing in Christ, glorifying His name to a lost world, and enjoying all the legitimate gifts and pleasures that He lavishes on His children!

A serious and thoughtful read of this book has the potential not only to encourage the believer to grow in grace, but to bring about healing from the terrible addictions of being so overly-concerned with ourselves, our needs, our desires. Paying careful attention to Piper’s teaching may just cure us of the self-absorptions, self-image obsessions, and victim mentalities that infect our lives on so many levels, in relationships, work, ministry, pursuits, and in our worldview. The church needs writing like this – to get back to the call to die to self and live IN Christ for the glory of God – until the whole world knows!