A wasted life?

I'm just reading John Piper's book Don't waste your life it is a real challenge. Its good to read books that makes you feel uncomfortable, though only if you do something about the issues it they throw up.

Piper's fear is that millions of Christians are wasting their lives because we do not live to glorify God, to enjoy God, as if we treasure God. I have found a number of the questions he poses challenging and thought provoking:

• What is the one passion of your life that makes everything else look like rubbish in comparison?


• How do I boast in the cross?


• If I love Christ how can he be magnified in my behaviour this afternoon, this evening or this week?


• Do I really believe it is better to lose my life than waste it?


• Do I live as if Christ supplies all I need?


• Why don't people ask about my hope? Is it because our lives look no different?


• How does my life show that I treasure Christ above everything else?

The challenge is one I need to look at. How do I use my money for Christ's glory? Piper even has a challenge for us on TV and family. But I think the biggest challenge is when he talks of having a wartime mentality. In wartime everything is geared up for the battle. In Peace time everything is geared up for comfort. The challenge is obvious - what does my living show about how I view life here and now?

Its a great book well worth reading, but it should come with a warning, it will not let you feel comfortable, it will prod and poke at your life and living. But my hunch is that is just what I need.