Compare And Contrast Graham And John Piper Osteen

Piper, Osteen, and Graham express happiness differently; all leading people to different opinions and feelings toward their own happiness. Piper sees happiness as doing things to make God happy. Osteen believes happiness is God wanting to make us happy. Graham’s version of happiness is being forgiven of sin. Piper believes that if people do things to make God happy we will find happiness. That means not doing things for ourselves, but for him to find our own happiness. John Piper says, “Not His gifts, but Him. Not ourselves, but Him.” (Piper 18) This quote from the article explains how we should always be focused on God himself, not ourselves or His gifts. If we do everything for Him we will get the happiness everyone desires. “To say to Him that something else satisfies you more is the opposite of worship.” (Piper 22) This quote out of Piper’s article reminds me of Augustine. Both believing we should do everything through worshiping God and remembering he is the reason for our happiness.
He also believes it is selfish of us to not be happy with who God made us to be. He believes we are all different making us each beautiful and unique. This is significant because God gave us each what we needed to make us happy, in Osteen’s opinion. “God has given us all different gifts, talents, and personalities on purpose. You don’t really need anybody else’s approval to do what you know God wants you to do.” (Osteen 92) This quote from Osteen’s article shows that he believes God makes all of us an original. We must all learn to be happy with what we are