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Proverbs 11:30
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. Last week we learned that everything about the true Christians life is represented as fruit/or the product that originates within the Christian’s heart. When that “fruit” is good it is what God uses to draw other people to Him. When the fruit is bad it repulses the ungodly and unsaved pushing them away from Christ. The concept reminds us of Jesus teaching recorded by Luke in his Gospel, chapter 6:43-46. Our focus this week is on the second half of the verse found in Proverbs 11:30 – “he who wins souls is wise.” Let’s consider how these two principles: 1. fruit providing life, and 2. the wisdom of winning souls fit together. Let’s start with:
- WISDOM! Baker’s Encyclopedia of the Bible defines wisdom as a capacity of the mind; wisdom is a special capacity necessary for full human living. Wisdom can be acquired through education and the application of the mind. Even while we are sinful human beings, we have been given the mental capacity to understand our hopeless and helpless situation, and our need for a Savior. We also have the mental capacity to reason that God has offered us hope in His redemptive plan for the human race. Wisdom also means that every person who accepts God’s gracious gift of salvation is for the rest of their earthly life responsible to the God who saved them for learning to live a life in harmony with His laws. Let’s take this one step further. The wisdom we have is one of God’s communicable attributes. That means wisdom is one of God’s characteristics that he has shared with us, as created in His likeness and image. God’s wisdom means – God always chooses the best goals and the best means to those goals. A true Christian has learned by personal experience, and understands from within their heart that God’s way is always the best way to the best outcome. Now, here is an interesting byproduct of the wisdom of God. We actually begin to understand the wisdom of:
- CAPTURING SOULS! Solomon uses an interesting Hebrew word here that is translated “wins” in the NIV; and is translated “captures” in the ESV. In this context the word Solomon used means to *“gain or win it especially through effort; to captivate and hold the interest of; to take according to the rules.” You will notice that none of these 3 definitions suggests winning is an event. Each is a process that requires continual effort, continual focus, and a clear understanding of the rules that must be followed. Beloved, every person who calls themselves a Christian ought to desire from their heart to be a tree of life. The fruit we produce on a daily basis from our daily lives ought to be that which captivates and captures all the souls around us whether they be walking with the Lord and encouraged to do so in perseverance because of our example. Or whether they be ungodly or unsaved, and convicted and convinced that repentance is both their key to redemption and a life of blessing. May our prayer be that of David’s recorded in Psalm 86: 11 – “teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”
If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
