"The Fruit of the Righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls" (Proverbs 11:30).
Scholars differ on the trust of this proverb. Is the point that a wise man, because of his wisdom/righteousness, is able to win souls, or is it simply saying that it is a wise thing to win souls? Certainly both are true.
Whose Soul?
When we think of soul winning, three categories come to mind. First is self. Jesus stressed that the first application of His teaching must be to self (Matt. 7:1-5). Those who have never been saved must also be won. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations..." (Matt. 28:19). And do not forget about those who were once saved and have returned to the world. They need to be won again (James 5:19-20).
Why Is It Wise?
Soul winning is wise because...
1. It is the greatest love for another you can show. Helping physically, financially, or emotionally is great work, expected and rewarded by God. However, it does not address one's greatest need. "For what will a man be profited if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul?" (Matt. 16:26).
2. Souls are saved from eternal torment. That is the consequence of our sins: the destruction of body and soul in hell (Matt. 10:28). Christ is the only remedy (Acts 4:12). God does not want anyone to have to so suffer. Surely you don't either.
3. It brings joy. Obviously, it brings joy to the one who is saved (e.g., Acts 8:39). But it is also a source of joy unlike any other to the soul-winner. You who have done this work appreciate Paul's feeling toward the Philippians, his "joy and crown" (Phil. 4:1).
4. It multiplies. It is God's plan for the good in one life to spill over into another, and from there into another, and so on. "And the things you have heard from me... these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2).
How Is It Done?
Our text links righteousness with soul winning. Surely no one can expect to convince others to obey truths that he himself does not live. Again, our first application must be to self. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).
Influence alone, however, is not enough. The gospel is God's power to save (Rom. 1:16). "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved. How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10:13-14). If we are to be soul-winners, we must do as the first-century Christians, who "went about preaching the word" (Acts 8:4).
- The Manslick Road Speaker, April, 2002