section 1

What is the better life? We know theologically, churchianity-wise, we know it is better to obey God and walk in His ways, because we are convinced that there is ultimately a day of judgement and a day of reward. But for today ii corinthians 6:2  hebrews 3:13 , how is that really different from people of the world who mostly subscribe to the same type of value system, such as: karma, ying/yang, cause and effect, the secret, etc.? When boiled down, our understanding of the Gospel, GOOD NEWS, isn’t very different from any flawed, miserable human system.

Because of the way we practically apply Truth, we have ended up understanding the word "spiritual" as if it meant "myth", "God" with "fate", "blessing" with "deceptive construct", and "the blessed" is understood as one who is "miserable but better be thankful anyway". We are despairing in our lives and frustrated in our relationships, feeling chained by it because some outside power designates us to a lot beyond our control. So, we take the Word and apply it harshly and miserably as if God likes to see us suffer deuteronomy 1:27  lamentations 3:33 . Is this really what God wills for our lives? Is this really His Good News?

Then what is the better life? Is it more money? Is it greater accomplishments? Is it more prestige, more possessions, better health, nicer weather, ritzier cars, bigger houses, interesting jobs, prettier bodies, loftier experiences? What is the better life? What is the best life? Maybe we would be better served to honestly ask ourselves what the better EXPERIENCE of life is, not what is the better circumstance. What is worthwhile? What makes life worth living? Scripture describes the difference between our values and the Lord’s luke 16:15 , though we often ignore them as mythical…err…spiritual.

But when the Bible says it is "better", that is not some mythical concoction to manipulate us into doing His will ii peter 1:16 , but it is a very real description of the experience one has of genuinely walking with God in His life ephesians 4:18, 5:1-2  john 14:6  deuteronomy 30:20  colossians 3:4 . Remember, the mystery of godliness holds promise for the future life and THIS life i timothy 3:16  i timothy 4:8  i timothy 6:6  i timothy 6:17-19 , but the misunderstanding of God’s promised blessings is destructive to our faith i timothy 1:19  i timothy 6:20-21  i timothy 6:10 . So, our faith can be built up and stabilized when we become convinced that our life here and now is experienced better through Heavenly principles than by worldly amenities.

my notes:

my notes:

my notes:

my notes:

section 2

matthew 5:2-12 niv

...He began to teach them. He said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

acts 26:29 csb

"I wish before God," replied Paul, "that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains."

We pervert the term "blessed" because we have let this describing word be characterized by our own biases, instead of believing what the Scriptures actually say. Blessed is an adjective that means to be happy, conveying the idea of cheer, gladness and joy…one who is blessed even has a strong connotation of one who we’d wish to be. Could it really be that the blessed, happy, ones we’d wish to be…the best life experience is found in those who are: poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungry and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted, etc.? We do this with the term "better" as well. What is actually the better experience of life? Should we take Scripture literally or mythically when it says, "better" and "blessed"?

my notes:

acts 20:35 niv

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ "

Is there truly more happiness in giving to others than receiving from them?

i peter 3:17 niv

For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

i peter 4:19 esv

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

We all suffer, but happier is the one who suffers the right way, for the right reasons, than the one who suffers for being selfish and proud.

proverbs 16:19 niv

Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

One would think it is a happier thing to be the proud, rich oppressor than to be oppressed, but when one is humble, he experiences life better being the oppressed than the oppressor.

my notes:

revelation 1:3 niv

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Revelation is a heavy book that we tend to avoid as we think it ruins our mojo, but when we take it to heart, happiness grows, it does not diminish.

romans 14:22 niv

So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

A clear conscience, even on disputable issues, is worth its weight in happiness.

ii corinthians 13:9 niv

We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.

If we learn to love others, we have great cheer even in our own weaknesses when we realize that those weaknesses help others to be strong.

i samuel 15:22 niv

But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Is it actually a better experience of life to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission, or have we been misled?

my notes:

proverbs 8:19 nas

My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield better than choicest silver.

A better experience of life is how wisdom structures your life more than how money could structure your life.

proverbs 15:16 niv

Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.

It is a better experience of life to have the one fear that cancels out all other fears than to have great amounts of money and still be filled with turmoil inwardly.

proverbs 15:17 niv

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.

Is meat or vegetables a better meal experience? It all depends on what fills the heart, not the stomach.

proverbs 16:8 nas

Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice.

To have less can actually be more when fewer possessions mean greater righteousness as opposed to living unfairly towards others to gain more wealth.

my notes:

proverbs 17:1 niv

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.

The simplicity of dry bread is more soothing to the stomach and the nerves than all you can eat with the conflicts that come for always striving to live it up.

proverbs 19:22 esv

What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.

proverbs 27:9 esv

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

There are better qualities of friendship than being "the benefactor" …the owed friend. The pleasure of true friendship is found in love, not manipulation.

proverbs 21:9 nas

It is better to live in a corner of a roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

You’ll experience a better marriage by yielding your prerogatives for your spouse that trying to control a controller.

proverbs 27:5 niv

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

proverbs 28:23 esv

Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.

Relationships are far more enjoyable if you can be straight-forward with each other rather than walking on eggshells. Rebukes are actually more enjoyable than flattery.

ecclesiastes 4:9 niv

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:

proverbs 14:4 esv

Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

proverbs 18:1 esv

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.

It is a better experience to be in fellowship, even with all the troubles that entails, than the inevitable loneliness of self-gratification.

ecclesiastes 7:1 niv

A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.

ii corinthians 2:15 niv

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

lamentations 3:27 niv

It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.

While there is some pleasure in likeable aromas, being that pleasing aroma is a better experience, just as finishing your race well is a better experience than an easy harbor.

my notes:

ecclesiastes 7:2-6 niv

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools. Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.

proverbs 14:13 nlt

Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.

james 3:14 niv

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.

However unintuitive it is, life is experienced better through facing your heart issues than trying to mask them and ignoring them through distractions.

ecclesiastes 7:8 niv

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

psalm 23:6 niv

Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

acts 26:14 niv

We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

It is a better experience of life to suffer a long time than to resist God’s work in your heart. The end result is far more enjoyable than chasing after happiness on your own terms.

psalm 84:10 niv

Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

The experience of anything is not found as much in the quantity as in the quality. Even a little of God is a far greater experience than a multitude of anything else.

psalm 63:3 niv

Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.

ecclesiastes 2:25 nas

For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without {God}?

God’s love is always the better experience than anything that this life could offer as an alternative. Life is not worth living without His love.

my notes: