Scripture: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” – (11:30)
Observation: Now the chapters shift from a personification of wisdom to proverbs that are not completely related to one another in this particular context. The majority compare and contrast unrighteous behaviors to sinful ones. In today’s key verse, there is no contrast mentioned as it speaks solely to righteousness.
Application: The only way a person can live righteously is through the Lord Jesus Christ. Like Abraham, who “… believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness,” our righteousness can only be through the Saviour. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him,” and Romans 3:22 states, “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” God’s righteousness continues to grow in us as we study the Word of God and grow in our faith. As we mature in our Christian walk and serve Him, our works begin to correlate with God’s will for our lives. We begin to yield fruit for His kingdom as we develop a deeper understanding of the importance of sharing Christ with others, and we find in the Scriptures His perfect plan for how to go about doing this.
By sharing the gospel with other people, many are led to the saving grace of Jesus. This “winning of souls” is the “fruit” that we bring forth through the witness of our own personal journey with Jesus. When others are saved through our Christian testimony, they in turn share their faith with others, leading to more who come to know Christ as Saviour. This pattern repeats itself again and again, resulting in a bountiful harvest of souls! This is the Great Commission that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 28:19-20. When we obey God’s directive in soul-winning, we are then considered “wise” as stated in our key verse. When was the last time you shared your faith with someone?
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You so much for being my Saviour. Help me, O Lord, through Your power, to reach others with the gospel. Give me eyes to see the opportunities You put in my path and a boldness to share You with others. Help me to reflect the love of God to everyone around me and bear fruit for the cause of Christ to the glory of God! In Your precious name, I pray. Amen!
If to Christ our only king men redeemed we strive to bring,
Just one way this may be done— we must win them one by one.
So you bring the one next to you, and I’ll bring the one next to me;
In all kinds of weather, we’ll all work together, and see what can be done.
If you’ll bring the one next to you, and I bring the one next to me,
In no time at all we’ll have them all, so win them, win them, one by one.
(from “Win Them One By One” by C. Austin Miles)
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“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.” – Proverbs 15:4