RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-04-08	What Does It Mean 'He Who Wins Souls Is Wise' (Pr.11:30)
		Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise. This turns out to be a difficult passage to interpret. Translations go in several directions trying to bring out the meaning. The word “wins” can also mean “attracts.” This suggests the wise person attracts others to wisdom. As he draws people to himself, the wise person can offer them sound instruction. This idea fits with the first part of the verse. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life”. A righteous person has life-giving influence in the way good fruit attracts one to a tree. The Hebrew word “wins” can also mean “captures or takes possession of.” Almost certainly, the phrase wins souls does not mean “evangelism” as in the New Testament sense of winning souls for Christ. Yet it is likely that a similar principle is involved. He that is wise, by communicating his wisdom, wins souls. By their righteous living, wise people attract other people, and thus can turn many souls away from foolishness and toward righteousness. Those that would win souls have the need for wisdom to know how to deal with them. And those that do win souls show that they are wise. James said something similar (Ja.5:20). Jas 5:20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. 1Co 9:19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 1Co 9:20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 1Co 9:21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 1Co 9:22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Paul lived in such a way that would attract other people to himself—or, rather, to Christ. He sought to find common ground with anyone and everyone in the hopes of winning their souls for God’s kingdom. No one can deny the wisdom of his approach. If we desire to be one who wins souls, if we want to be wise, we will follow Paul’s example. So, to win souls does not mean soul-winning or evangelism because “win” is literally “attract or take.” The idea is that a righteous person attracts others to wisdom. This fits the thought in the first part of the verse of a tree giving life to others by its fruit. The fruit of righteous living results in the wise becoming a tree of life. That is, a source of a meaningful life for others. A wise person is a model of a meaningful life. Gaining wisdom yourself can be the first step in leading people to God. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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