Mike Franzese, in an interview with sports radio host Jim Rome, related the story of how he turned his life around. Once considered the biggest moneymaker for the mob since Al Capone, Franzese quit the mob, admitted his guilt, and accepted a ten-year prison sentence. He lived to tell (and even write) about it. One of his books is entitled I’ll Make You an Offer You Can’t Refuse.
In the interview, Franzese explained to Rome about how he turned his life around: “I was very influenced by the book of Proverbs, King Solomon. I thought it was the most brilliant book I’d ever read. I read it quite extensively when I was in prison.”
Rome was amazed. Proverbs wasn’t the book he expected a mafia boss to be reading in prison! But Franzese said it was true, and he continued: “My second stint in prison I picked up Proverbs, started reading King Solomon, and I was just fascinated that just about every answer in life is in that book. And I said, ‘You know what? When I get out of prison, I’m going to try to do my business like Solomon does—with integrity—and follow a different direction.'”
Here is what is true about God’s wisdom: God makes you an offer you can refuse, but you will wish you hadn’t (see Prov. 1:23-33). Proverbs 3:5-8 sketches some of what you have in store if you decide to take God up on his offer:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.”
Say yes to God and to his wisdom, and you will find guidance and help in all aspects of how to live a life worth living.