How To Be A Wise Guy (or Girl)

Every now and then I will read through the book of Proverbs to see if I can gain more wisdom. I came across an excellent verse in chapter 11 verse 30 which says "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise."
As a believer, we may worship the Lord through music, the reading of His Word, helping others in need, etc but the wise person endeavors to win souls. What does it mean to win souls? Does it mean standing on a street corner and preaching? Does it mean going door to door warning people to repent? I suppose it could, but those are extreme cases and may end up pushing people away from God rather than towards Him. We actually can not win souls. Let me rephrase that, we can not win souls on our own. It is the Holy Spirit that wins souls. We are tools used by the Holy Spirit to win souls. In 1 Corinthians 3:6 Paul said "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." My friend, God expects us to plant and water.

Another verse that ties into wisdom for winning souls is in Daniel 12:3
" Those that are wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." The phrase "turn many to righteousness" means to turn many to trusting Jesus Christ as their savior so that they may receive the righteousness of God which is a requirement for salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

God tells us in Romans 4:5 that our faith in Jesus Christ is counted in God's sight for righteousness. "But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." A soul winner is wise because God says so. When all is said and done, all that really counts is what God said was important. A soul winner is wise because he will have God's praise and reward.

Let's go back to Proverbs 11:30 ".. the fruit of the righteous" and the righteous is us, the believers. The fruit is other people. Look at it in the physical world. What does an orange tree do, it produces fruit and within that fruit is the ability to reproduce another tree.
Above all else, our primary mission as Christians is to replace ourselves. Jesus said in Matthew 6:20 " lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal."

The only thing from this earth that is going to heaven is people and we need to be responsible, at least in part, for some of those people who are in heaven. This is bearing fruit and it is just another way that people will be able to recognize that we are Christians. How do you know a tree is an apple tree when you see it? By it’s bark? No, by it’s fruit. Likewise, we also shall be known by our fruit (or lack of fruit). I personally do not want to stand at the Judgment seat of Christ and have to tell Jesus that I am not responsible for anyone that is in Heaven. What a time of shame, guilt, sorrow and loss of reward that would be.

There are two primary ways we can win souls to Christ and thus bear fruit. One way is to let your daily life be such a great example of Christian joy and love that people will be drawn to you and want what you have. Then you will have the opportunity to witness to them and share with them the joy of having Christ in your life.
Another way is to give to ministries that are sharing the Gospel either in your community or around the world. Paul gives a good scripture for this in Philippians 4:17 "Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account." We will all have an "account" in Heaven which we will be judged by and will either receive rewards or loss of rewards. Paul is telling the Philippian believers that he doesn't want their money for money's sake, he wants them to give so it will register to their heavenly account.

So, if we want to be a wise guy (or girl) we need to endeavor to win souls via watering, planting, sewing seeds to help the preaching of the Gospel to others and to share our witness with those we come in contact with. In doing so, we will please God and it will allow us to stand before Christ and hear Him say "well done, good and faithful servant."