Desiring God (John Piper)

I finished this "classic" John Piper book back in March but haven't gotten around to posting this until today. Piper's thesis is stated in the opening pages:

The old tradition says: “The chief end of man is to glorify God AND enjoy Him forever.”... notice they said “chief end” not “chief ends”... This book aims to persuade you that “The chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying Him forever”. (pg 18)

There is so much in this book but I'll pull out the parts that I especially enjoyed or found convicting:

In a well-known booklet the slogan appears as a train: The locomotive as “fact”. The coal car is “faith”. The caboose is “feeling”... Therefore, let us affirm the slogan when it means that physical sensations are not essential. But let us also make clear that the locomotive of fact is not headed for heaven if it is not followed by a faith that treasures Christ and if it is not pulling a caboose-load of new, though imperfect, affections. (pg 90)

Well I know which "booklet" that is: Campus Crusade's 4 Spiritual Laws :) This is a very interesting point of clarification that he makes. Piper argues that feelings/affections are a very important part of the Christian life.

Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, sustained himself through incredible hardships by a disciplined meditation on the Bible every day.... “It was not easy for Mr. Taylor in his changeful life, to make time for prayer and Bible study, but he knew that it was vital... Often with only one large room for coolies and travelers alike, they would screen off a corner for their father and another for themselves, with curtains of some sort; and then, after sleep at last had brought a measure of quiet, they would hear a match struck and see the flicker candlelight which told that Mr. Taylor, however weary, was poring over the little Bible in two volumes always at hand. From 2 to 4 a.m. was the time he usually gave to prayer; the time he could be most sure of being undisturbed to wait upon God.”

Wow... God grant me discipline to be a man of Your Word and prayer like Hudson Taylor.

Piper continues on with the topic of prayer...

Where a man belongs is at the bedside of his children, leading in devotion and prayer. Where a man belongs is leading his family to the house of God. Where a man belongs is up early and alone with God seeking vision and direction for his family. (pg 218)

May it be said of me that I was this kind of man.

So what does a pastor say to his people concerning the purchase and ownership of two homes in a world where 35,000 children starve to death every day and mission agencies cannot evangelize more unreached people for lack of funds? First he may quote Amos 3:15: “I will strike the winter house along with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end.” Then he may read Luke 3:11, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none.” (pg 202)

In our hyper-commercialized North American society, Piper boldly affirms that many of purchases are unnecessary and will one day perish. Oh, that we would be people who hold loosely the things of this world.

Then near the end of the book there is a very well-written chapter on missions.

First, evangelism can never be finished, but missions can be finished. The reason is this: Missions has the unique task of crossing language and culture barriers to penetrate a people group and establish a church movement; but evangelism is the ongoing task of sharing the gospel among people within the same culture. (pg 230)

David Bryant defines World Christians as those who say: “We want to accept personal responsibility for reaching some of earth’s unreached, especially from among the billions at the widest end of the Gap who can only be reached through major new efforts by God’s people. Among every people-group where there is no vital, evangelizing Christian community there should be, there must be one, there shall be one. Together we want to help make this happen.” (pg 233)

John 10:16 “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” Notice 3 powerful encouragements in this text for frontier missionaries:

1. Christ does indeed have other sheep outside the present fold! (“I have other sheep”)

2. Christ is under a divine necessity to gather His own sheep (“I must bring them also”)

3. The sheep He calls will surely come! (“They will listen to my voice”)