The Wisdom of Soul-Winning: Bearing Fruit that Gives Life

“The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30, NET)

We really need a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be a Christian. While they may attend church, give to charity, and strive to maintain a pure tongue, these actions alone fall short of embodying the essence of a genuine Christian life. The problem lies in the misconception that these outward displays of piety are sufficient. In reality, being a faithful Christian requires more, and one of the critical aspects often overlooked is the imperative duty of winning souls for the Kingdom.

The Significance of Winning Souls

To delve into this issue, we must first understand what we mean by “winning souls.” In the Bible, the term “soul” carries various meanings. It can refer to an individual, as seen in Exodus 12:4 or Acts 2:41, or it may signify a person’s inner spirit, as indicated in Matthew 10:28 or James 2:26.

So, why is it considered wise to save souls? The answer lies in recognizing the profound worth of each human being. Despite our humble origins and the limited monetary value assigned to our physical components, such as salts, water, or phosphorus, the soul’s intrinsic worth surpasses all material riches. As stated in Matthew 16:25-26, a soul is more valuable than the entire world, its honors, and the world’s pleasures. This worth stems from the divine origin of the soul, as emphasized in Ecclesiastes 12:7 and Acts 17:28.

Moreover, the immortality of the soul underscores the importance of saving it. The spirit of man is conscious even after death, as explained in 1 Corinthians 2:11 and Matthew 10:28. This concept is exemplified by the appearances of Moses and Elijah in Matthew 17:1-5, demonstrating that the spirit persists beyond physical demise.

Additionally, the salvation of souls is intricately tied to God’s redemptive plan, epitomized in John 3:16. God’s sacrifice for our souls, as highlighted in Romans 8:32 and 1 Peter 1:18-19, underscores the value of our efforts to save others. Indeed, our salvation is contingent upon our endeavors to save souls, as reinforced by Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Timothy 2:2, Luke 19:10, and 1 Timothy 3:15.

The soul possesses an extraordinary capacity to endure pain or experience pleasure, as noted in Luke 12:4, 5 and 1 Peter 1:4, Revelation 21:3, 4. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to be wise in our approach to saving souls.

The Wisdom of Winning Souls

To be more effective as soul winners, we need several crucial elements to be successful:

1. A Good Understanding of the Bible: One must possess a working knowledge of the Bible, for the truth can suffer in the hands of the unlearned (Ephesians 6:17, John 6:44, 45).
2. Godly Living: Living a holy life is essential (1 Peter 2:11, 12, Matthew 5:13-16, 2 Corinthians 3:2).
3. Zealous Effort: A genuine commitment is required (John 4:28, 29, 39, 40, Acts 20:31, 26:28). It is only through our active engagement that we can lead sinners to salvation.
4. Love for Souls: Like Jesus and the early disciples, we must deeply love souls. Our conversations should revolve around matters of eternal significance, particularly the teachings of the Bible.
5. Putting Christ at the Forefront: Keeping oneself in the background and Christ in the foreground is essential (Mark 1:17, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6).
6. Adaptability and Diplomacy: Adjusting to the customs and peculiarities of the person being evangelized is vital (1 Corinthians 9:22, Jude 22, 23). The use of diplomacy is encouraged (Colossians 4:16).

The Word of God as the Means

In our pursuit to win souls, we must recognize that we cannot serve ourselves (Jeremiah 10:23, Isaiah 64:6, Matthew 15:7-9). Even when in force, the Law of Moses could not save (Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16, Hebrews 10:1-4). Thus, the Word of God becomes our primary tool for salvation (Psalm 19:7, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 15:1, 2, 1 Timothy 4:16, James 1:21).

In conclusion, neglecting the duty of teaching others the gospel and striving to save their souls is a sin. As Proverbs 11:30 reminds us, “He that winneth souls is wise.” To be wise in this regard is to comprehend the immeasurable worth of each soul, to understand the significance of our role in God’s redemptive plan, and to earnestly, vigorously, and lovingly engage in the task of winning souls for Christ. It is a mission that requires a deep knowledge of the Bible, godly living, zealous effort, love for souls, a focus on Christ, adaptability, diplomacy, and a reliance on the Word of God. May we all strive to be wise by winning souls for the Kingdom of God, fulfilling our calling as Christians.

~PW 🌮🛶