Risk Is Right: Better to Lose Your Life Than to Waste It

I have to own up to the fact that I own every book that John Piper has written and yet find that I have a hard time reading most of his books. He writes with such depth and verbosity that I often have started his books and left many of them unfinished. I do better with his devotionals and shorter works like this one. This is a very short book that can be read by slow readers like me in less than four hours (I read at the speed of the spoken word - due to 3 detached retinas in my right eye). One of the common denominators that make Piper's books and preaching so compelling is that he is a man who walks the talk. John Piper has addressed virtually all of the so-called "Politically Correct" issues of the day like abortion, homosexuality, racism, and numerous other issues head on in his ministry and has never veered to the left or to the right to teach, preach, and write on the whole counsel of God no matter what the cost or consequences.If anyone has earned the right to speak on "risk" in the Christian community its John Piper. He owns up to his own sin and imperfections and always exults in the cross, forgiveness of sins, and God's glorious grace. This book is to sanctification what Pascal's wager is to justification. The gist of Piper's writing in this book is that everyone is risking their life in one way or another. Therefore, the greatest use of one's life is to risk it for and in Christ. The greatest risk of all is to not live for Christ - that is a tragic risk that is not worth taking.In the Introduction David Platt writes,"This [risk] is the picture of Jesus in the gospel. He is something--someone--worth losing for. When we really believe this, then risking everything we are and everything we have, to know and obey Christ is no longer a matter of sacrifice. It's just common sense. To let go of the pursuits, possessions, pleasures, safety, and security of this world in order to follow Jesus wherever he leads, no matter what it costs, is not sacrificial as much as it is smart. In the words of Jim Elliott, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lost."The truth of the matter is that Jesus risked his own relationship with the Father and the Spirit in going to the cross. He was totally forsaken so that we could be forgiven and accepted by the Father. However, He did this for the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). What makes this book powerful is that John Piper has modeled a life of risk - in his faithfulness to God's Word; entrusting his finances totally to God (he doesn't earn a penny from his writings), and in his sold out total dedication to his tireless endeavors of spreading the gospel for the glory of God - so that everything he says about risk carries the weight of his own integrity (1 Timothy 4:16).Giving examples from both the Old and New Testaments on risk, and honing in on the greatest risk taker of them all - the Lord Jesus Christ - Piper does an excellent job of tackling the objections we all have to taking risks. He then demonstrates the tremendous joy and how ironically low the risk actually is for the life of the Christian. When we fully entrust our lives to living in faith on the promises of God in Christ there is ultimately nothing to lose, but everything to gain. In Piper-esque fashion at the end of the book one is left being satisfied in Christ and in the glory of God and with a desire and passion to spread the gospel among the nations so that they like us may live to worship Him in all His splendor. Piper motivates and stirs up a passion for Christ and His gospel in the soul like few others - and for that this book is definitely recommended and worth your time, mediation, and application of the truths explicated.

If you’re looking for a book to challenge your faith and perspective on “safety” and “risk” for the Kingdom you NEED this book!As a missionary in West Africa this is all I needed to remind myself that risking myself, my safety, and that of my wife and three kids is right. Is godly. Is WORTH THE RISK and… if you risk it all, you’re in good company of the Saints of old!

The very notion of risk is a foreign subject to most Americans. Yet, anapiper important aspect of the Christian life can be summed up in one word: risk. John Piper argues that risk is essential. The title of the book is Risk is Right: Better to Lose Your Life Than to Waste It.Readers familiar with Dr. Piper’s Christian hedonism will gravitate to this book – for God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Piper writes,This is what we live for, and die for: to make much of Jesus Christ and his glorious, universe-encompassing kingdom. The heart cry of our lives, young and old, men and women, rich and poor, is the glory of Jesus Christ so that with full courage now as always Christ might be honored in our bodies whether by life or by death.Such a notion involves risk, which the author defines as “an action that exposes you to the possibility of loss or injury.” Most Americans do whatever they can do achieve the opposite. Yet Piper argues, “It may not be loving to choose comfort or security when something great may be achieved for the cause of Christ and for the good of others.”Piper urges readers to consider what he has coined, “risk avoidance,” which is in the final analysis, a cowardly act. Bonhoeffer is cited in what proves to be one of the most moving quotations in the book. Read the German pastor’s words slowly:To delay or fail to make decisions may be more sinful than to make wrong decisions out of faith and love.“Risk avoidance” Piper writes, “may be more sinful – more unloving than taking the risk in faith and love and making a wrong decision.”The author presents examples of Old Testament and New Testament saints who took risks for the glory of God.The point that Piper seeks to make is this: If you only live in comfort and refuse to step out in faith and risk, you will waste your life. When we risk, we will be eternally satisfied in him. Nothing will have been wasted.”As usual, Piper always challenges presuppositions, encourages lively and Christ-centered faith and prods Christ-followers in the right direction. The concluding sentence of the book is revealing:But at the end of the road of risk, taken in reliance on the blood-bought promises of God, there will be fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.

Wow, that is all I can say. It isn't a very thick book and I once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I had no idea it was going to be as powerful as it was. Christians can be TRULY optimistic because we have Christ and God is sovereign! God isn't in the business of handing out temporal, earthly gifts that will pass away, He is in the business of handing out Himself! So we can pray and ask and live and proclaim boldly knowing that God will get glory as we trust Him... and if we die doing it, we WIN for we will be with him! That is incredibly optimistic!

I used the word challenging not to say that the book was hard to read. It’s actually a short book. The book is challenging because of what it calls its readers to do. Take risks. It worked out that I read this short book at the start of a new year and I’m glad for the timing as I can consider what risks God is calling me to take in the coming year.