Sunday, August 30, 2015

Reviewing John Piper's The Dangerous Duty of Delight

John Piper's The Dangerous Duty of Delight is a condensed version of his classic, Desiring God (1986). Those who know me will not find it surprising that I highly recommend both books (I've read more than 15 of Chancellor Piper's books). The second edition of The Dangerous Duty of Delight was released in 2011 with the following subtitle: Daring to Make God Your Greatest Desire. I read the original edition (2001) which was released with this subtitle: The Glorified God and The Satisfied Soul. The 2001 edition consists of less than 100 pages that are divided into the following nine chapters:

Chapter 1: Treating Delight As Duty Is Controversial
Chapter 2: Glorify God by Enjoying Him Forever
Chapter 3: Affections Are Not Optional
Chapter 4: Pursuing Pleasure Undermines Pride and Self-Pity
Chapter 5: Pursue Your Joy in the Joy of the Beloved
Chapter 6: What Does It Mean for Worship?
Chapter 7: What Does It Mean for Marriage?
Chapter 8: What Does It Mean for Money?
Chapter 9: What Does It Mean for Missions?

In The Dangerous Duty of DelightPiper reminds us how all of us have a longing that can't be satisfied from coaching victories, praise from our colleagues, traveling to international locations, or even spending time with our loved ones. Our hearts are restless until we fulfill our duty to delight in the one true Object of human desire - God Almighty. If we fulfill this duty, our attitudes toward church services, our mates, homes, and very purpose in life can radically change.

If you're a Christian looking for a solid book that is easy to understand, check out The Dangerous Duty of Delight. If you're not a Christian but are open to reading a short book not short on Scripture, check out The Dangerous Duty of Delight. Outside of the Bible, no author has blessed me more than John Piper and perhaps he can do the same for you.