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

Reviewed by:

G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing alumnus from Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Title:

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

Author:

John Piper

Publisher:

Crossway

https://www.crossway.org/books

Publication Date:

January 15, 2013

Format:

Paperback

Length:

61 pages

OVERVIEW

“Every direction you turn,” John Piper writes, “there are unknowns and things beyond your control.” Life is full of unknowns. This raises an important questions for Christians: do we trust God with the unknowns or try to live with as much control and safety as possible? John Piper argues that if we aim for absolute safety and control, we actually miss out on living abundantly. He shows how the most notable people in the Bible, New Testament and Old, all at some point chose to trust God knowing there was risk involved, and all of them saw it as a necessary step in their faith journey. Along the way, Piper deals with some related questions about God’s provision and the problem of evil.

It’s all too easy in Western countries to forget that the Bible tells believers to expect they will experience trials in this life. Piper’s message fights against this tendency, helping readers see how the Bible views suffering as a fact of life for believers and nonbelievers. While he notes this often happens due to persecution, Piper doesn’t claim this means Christians aren’t following God right unless people dislike them. That sort of thinking is the other mistake too many Western Christians think, leading some to cry out every time some minor inconvenience occurs. Piper affirms that even if Christians don’t experience abuse from other believers, choosing to trust God fully will lead to times where Christians have to take risks. In fact, living abundantly with all of the blessings that come from following God faithfully can only happen if Christians are willing to undergo a certain amount of risk.

One of the best primers Christians can read on how to approach suffering and risk.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5 stars)

5 stars

Suggested Audience

Christians interested in a theology of suffering and challenge.

Christian Impact

Piper carefully shows readers how Scripture connects following God connects to accepting a certain amount of risk. He also provides some excellent explanations for the objections that readers may immediately think of to this concept (such as how this fits with Scripture verses that talk about God always protecting his followers). By doing so, he gives readers answers that are practical yet full of substance.