1) Why is risk woven into the fabric of human existence and inextricably tied to our finitude?
2) Explain the myth of safety (p.81, 88-89).
3) How do the promises of God in the Bible strengthen us to take risks? What does God ultimately promise that is better than the comfort and safety to be had in avoiding pain and death?
4) Explain why Piper says that risk is right. What is it about avoiding risk and buying into the myth of safety that leads to a wasted life?
2) Explain the myth of safety (p.81, 88-89).
3) How do the promises of God in the Bible strengthen us to take risks? What does God ultimately promise that is better than the comfort and safety to be had in avoiding pain and death?
4) Explain why Piper says that risk is right. What is it about avoiding risk and buying into the myth of safety that leads to a wasted life?
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Lesson 5 – Examining the Motivations behind Risk
We have seen the biblical pattern of God revealing his wisdom in human foolishness, his power in earthly weakness, and his glory through worldly shame. And we have seen that God's supreme value is shown when we seek his wisdom, power, and glory through the deep waters of earthly foolishness, weakness, and shame. Pain and death, then, are not things to flee at all costs, but "as sorrowful yet always rejoicing" they should be viewed as means of seeing and savoring Jesus Christ. The life of love aims to show Christ forth for others to see and savor. Therefore, Piper argues, risk is right because love shines most beautifully when we are willing to risk our comfort and safety, even our lives, to show people the path to everlasting and infinite joy. In the next lesson we will look at how passion for Jesus Christ and love for people are the proper motivation for risking our lives. But first it would be beneficial to consider some wrong motivations for risk.
1. Loveless sacrifice
1.1. Read 1 Corinthians 13:3
1.2. Explain how it is possible for a person to sacrifice his money or even his life for another person yet have no love. What could possibly motivate a person to do this?
1.2.1. Consider Romans 5:7 and the difference between a "righteous" man and a "good" man.
1.2.2. Imagine the situation in Luke 18:9-14. What things motivated the Pharisee to fast and pay tithes?
1.2.3. What terms are there for people who live sacrificially for reasons other than love?
2. Testing the Lord God
2.1. Read Matthew 4:5-7
2.2. What is the difference between this putting the Lord God to the test that Jesus denounces and the risk-taking life that Piper commends?
2.3. Compare Jesus' statement with the attitude of Ahaz in Isaiah 7:10-13.
2.3.1. What motivated Ahaz's unwillingness "test the Lord"?
2.3.2. What insights, if any, does this add to our understanding of inappropriate and appropriate motives in taking risks for Christ?
3. The battle for right motivations
3.1. List wrong motivations for risk and sacrifice which have been discussed thus far.
3.1.1. How might these wrong motives harm rather than help others?
3.1.2. Where do all of these defective motivations stem from?
3.1.3. They all stem from a sinful heart.
3.1.3.1. The sinful heart wants to draw attention to itself - it might be the attention of other people who will admire our nobility and courage in making sacrifices and taking risks
3.1.3.2. Or it might be attention the attention of God so as to commend one's self before him as worthy of his praise and approval
3.1.3.3. The problem, then, is not simply that we pursue the wrong things (attention and approval) but that our hearts are dead to wanting the right things
3.1.3.4. Since all of our hearts are twisted and distorted by sin we are all prone to risk and sacrifice for these wrong reasons
3.2. The pursuit of a new heart with the right motivations
3.2.1. We must desire Jesus more than we desire the praise of our own selves
3.2.1.1. This is just another way of saying we need a new heart with new affections - We must be born again
3.2.1.2. Therefore, we must recognize that we are dependent on God to give us the right heart; we cannot make our hearts have the right motivations out of will power
3.2.1.3. Pray that God would work such things in our hearts as are spoken of in Ezekiel 11:19-20; Ephesians 1:18-19; Philippians 4:8-9
3.2.2. We should saturate our hearts and minds with the Word
3.2.2.1. Read 2 Corinthians 3:18-4:6
3.2.2.2. According to 3:18 we are changed "from glory to glory" as we see the glory of Jesus Christ more clearly. How does this connect to the need for a heart that desires Jesus and his exaltation more than self-exaltation?
3.2.2.3. Seeing Jesus transforms out hearts. Where can we see Jesus?
3.2.2.3.1. In his word (cf. 4:4)
3.2.2.3.2. In his body, the church (cf. Ephesians 4:7-16, esp. v.13)
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