To date, next to the Bible, the best book that I have ever read in my Christian life is Desiring God by John Piper. I did not always feel this way about the book, for it came to me with heavy skepticism, due to the subtitle, "Meditations of a Christian Hedonist." Kind of sounded like a contradiction, much like "Christian Lusting" or "Christian Adultery." The language made put me on my guard a bit, because this was not the typical way that I understood the Christian life. There was talk of the pursuit of our maximum pleasure and satisfaction, the kindling of our emotions to a white-hot flame of passion - a little extreme (so I thought…). Furthermore, after reading the whole book, I did not completely agree with Piper's interpretation of certain passages or the impressions I got concerning his position on certain theological positions like eschatology (end times). 

On the other hand, the thesis of the book has so radically impacted my life that every moment of every day has forever been changed. Here it is, God will be most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him. 

Piper modifies the familiar Westminster Confession of Faith Question 1, "What is the chief end of man?" which answers, "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Piper tweaks one word, which opens to door to living the Christian life to the glory of God. He says, "The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever." And therein lies the application - we are glorifying to God when God is the greatest source of our joy and fulfillment. 

That statement is what Piper spends the whole book unpacking, explaining, and applying. It means that when God's glory, which is the central theme of the Bible, is for you the most satisfying pursuit, you will not rest until you fully know that pleasure of pleasing Him in everything you do in life. To say it another way, you will not be able to endure existence unless God be glorified in you. Or to say it negatively, you will not find pleasure in anything other than that which glorifies God. Thus the pursuit of your pleasure in the God alone is not only the key to glorifying Him, but the essence of virtue and righteousness. 

This immediately makes people suspicious because it sounds selfish. Piper contends however, is there any virtue or is it even possible to make a pretense to loving and worshipping God out of a sense of duty or drudgery? Is it not wretched to claim to love someone and yet not take delight in him or her? He uses the scenario of a husband sending his wife "dutiful roses." Imagine a husband coming to the door to meet his wife with an enormous spring bouquet of roses, mums, daisies, and sunflowers in a 2 foot tall vase, ringing the doorbell as if it was someone else, so as to surprise her when she sees that it is him. When she opens, he hands her the bouquet, and as she leaps for joy to hug his neck, he says to her, 'Really it was nothing. After all it has been a long time since I have done it, and it is my duty to give you flowers - I mean, that's just what husbands do…'" What do you think that does to the flowers in her mind? What do you think she thinks about every time she sees them? His comments about his action as a part of his duty as a husband belittled his wife's worth in his eyes, and consequently belittled her worth to herself. 

He should say to her, "Hun, these are for you to show you my deep love for you. You are to me the most wonderful, attractive, enjoyable person I know, and I am so grateful to be your husband. My relationship with you is so satisfying to me that I had to show you by getting you these flowers. I appreciate that you… You are to me… These flowers will fade in a few days, but I want you to know that my love for you will never fade. Thank you for being my wife and friend." What do you think that does for his wife? Is that selfish to say that he finds great delight in her and thus was prompted to lavish her with flowers, praise, and affection? On the contrary, it proves that his love for her is sincere, because he has internally exulted in her worth. 

The internalization and magnification of the worth of a person is truly seen when not only are their virtues understood, but when they are delighted in. And so it is with God. Pagans can see that God is, and that He is powerful, holy, loving, compassionate, patient, wrathful, orderly, sovereign, all-knowing, ever-present, etc. but that does not mean that they have a relationship with God. What makes the difference? God is delighted in as well as being understood because the believer internalizes and praises the God that he understands. What makes it a sin is when we choose to focus on another object than God for satisfaction and delight. 

Piper writes, "God must love and delight in His beauty and perfection above all things. For us to do this in front of the mirror is the essence of vanity. . . Is not the essence of righteousness to place supreme value on what is supremely valuable, with all of the just actions to follow? And isn't the opposite of righteousness to set our highest affections on the things of little or no worth, with all the unjust actions that follow? Thus the righteousness of God is the infinite zeal and joy and pleasure that He has in what is supremely valuable, namely His own perfection and worth. And if He were to ever act contrary to this eternal passion for His own perfections he would be unrighteous, He would be an idolater." 

Admittedly, it took me a very long time to wade through the first few chapters of the book, because the concept was something that I knew could not be processed at a cursory reading. I needed more time to compare this teaching with the Bible, and to my amazement, I saw it on literally every page! I had my spiritual eyes opened to the wonderful and enthusiastic savoring of God that filled the lives and lips of the Bible writers. I saw them crying out, "O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days" (Psalm 90:14), and "As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God" (Psalm 42:1), and "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips" (Psalm 63:3-5). 

I began a journey that day that has forever changed the way I read the Bible, pray, worship, love my life, use my money, preach the Gospel, say no to temptation, and treat other people. 

Without reservation I call everyone who reads this review to put down every book you are reading, run to your nearest bookstore, purchase this book, and join me in pursuing your greatest pleasure in the unfathomable riches of the glory of God spoken of by David in Psalm 16:11, "You will make known to me the path of life, in Your presence is fullness of joy, and at Your right hand there are pleasures forever." Refuse to settle for the slums of sin's passing pleasures when you can dine at the banquet table of God's exquisite feast which satisfy forever. If you want the distilled version, it is titled, "The Dangerous Duty of Delight." More simple and straight, less theological and difficult. May your passion be single!

From the Back Cover

The pursuit of pleasure is not optional.  It is essential.  Scripture reveals that the great business of life is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.  In this paradigm-shattering work, John Piper reveals that the debate between duty and delight doesn't truly exist:  Delight is our duty.  Join him as he unveils stunning, life-impacting truths you saw in the Bible but never dared to believe.

About the Author

John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis since 1980, is the author of Future Grace, A Godward Life, The Dangerous Duty of Delight, and The Pleasures of God.  He received his doctorate in theology from the University of Munich and taught biblical studies for six years at Bethel college, St. Paul, before becoming a pastor.  He and his wife, Noël, have four sons and one daughter.