The Proverbs Life Is A Much Better Life

By: James Thomas Lee Jr

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

The idea with this text is that the Proverbs life is a much better life. The reason for saying that is because it leads to either no unpleasant consequences or to very few unpleasant consequences. So this text is about improving a person's decision-making skills, about reducing the unpleasant consequences that result from bad decisions, and about showing that the Proverbs life produces a much better life. There is one main theme that is presented throughout. If people want to live a good life and experience very few unpleasant consequences, then they need to study the scriptures, internalize its truths, and live by its simple, clear principles. In support of that theme, the book of Proverbs is a good place to start. Next, there is a key passage that is presented throughout this text, too. John 8:31-32 says, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

It must be stated, though, that this text has been one of the most interesting that this author has ever written. It started out with a simple idea a few months ago but has changed directions several times since that beginning. For one thing, it has been tedious to just come up with a meaningful title. In the beginning, the title was "The Consequences of Sin Often Exceeds the Pleasures of Sin." But it did not stay that way for very long. Next it was changed to "The Consequences of Sin." But it did not stay that way for very long either. After that, it was next changed to "Bad Decisions Usually Lead to Bad Consequences." It did stay that way for a few days. But then it was changed again to "The Secret to Making Better Decisions." Later that same day, though, it was changed to "The Proverbs Approach to Better Decision-Making." Then a few days after that, it was changed to "The Proverbs Path to Fewer Unpleasant Consequences." A short while later, it was changed one more time to "The Proverbs Life Is a Much Better Life." At last, that is the title that this text will use.

But the most important thing in all of those title changes is that the overall purpose of this text never changed. It was always about bringing people closer to the scriptures and equipping them with ways to make better decisions so that they will not suffer so many unpleasant consequences. Almost every person has made a few bad decisions and has had to suffer some very bad consequences. Because every person is a sinner and because every person sins, every person also makes bad choices that lead to bad consequences. But in looking at that overall problem, there seems to be a simple solution. In general, bad decisions are the products of bad thinking. So an obvious way to eliminate the bad decisions that people make is to eliminate their bad thinking. That means that this text has been written to try to make that happen.

There is now one final note to be made about the organization of this text before concluding this Introduction. Something that the reader might find useful is boxes throughout that show the different passages that are being referenced at the times and in the places where they are being referenced. That way, he or she will not have to jump all over the place or get into or out of the scriptures to locate a particular reference. Hopefully that inclusion will help the reader in trying to understand the various events and to also quickly put them into their right context. So it is hoped that that addition will make this text easier to read and that the Lord will receive the praise, honor, and glory that He rightfully deserves.