I considered how to title this short article. I thought about using the word "foolish" instead of "stupid," but opted out of the former for the latter. I thought it would be more enticing for those who read it and want to read the whole writing. Journalists spend a lot of time thinking of the right headline for their articles so that they grab the attention of the reader. After that in importance is the first sentence and paragraph. If that is not good the average reader will tend to not read the rest. I also thought of the simple saying "are you," and then "am I," and then finally concluded to go with the one above because I didn't want to exclude myself, even though the question is designed to provoke the reader to answer the question as respects himself or herself.
I was lying in my bed watching a basketball game when the above text came to mind (I hope by the Holy Spirit who brings things to our minds; See John 14: 26). I have often thought of it in regard to my own efforts to win souls for Christ. I have said to myself - "you have not been very smart" or "you have been foolish and stupid to a large degree when it comes to winning souls." I also thought about some other fellow Christians and wondered about how many of them win very few souls or some none at all. I also thought about how the text reads in the King James version which reads as follows:
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."
I judged myself on this matter. I pondered whether I had labored as hard as I should have in trying to win souls to the truth and to Christ. I thought that since I had won only a few souls, compared to others like Charles Spurgeon or Billy Graham, that I must not be very wise. That produced sorrow, repentance, and confession to the Lord, and caused me to seek his forgiveness. I also thought about how the text could be read as the translation at the head of this article. In other words, we could say:
1) he who wins souls is wise,
2) he who is wise wins souls,
which is fascinatingly interesting.
The wise saying of the wisest man up to the time of Christ, king Solomon, and author of the proverbs, does not mean to restrict the words "winning souls" to winning souls to the Lord, but would include winning souls to the truth, whether it be religious truth, philosophical truth, moral truth, etc. Charlie Kirk, recent martyr for the Lord and for the truth, was a good winner of souls to the truth, including truth in politics, moral and ethical truth, such as in the abortion or "trans" debate, and who certainly won many to Christ.
A good soul winner is a good persuader and debater and not through Sophist ways and means, or tactics, but through rational argument, by the logos, rather than by pathos or ethos, having the noble purpose of the well being of people, knowing that ignorance is destructive, as the prophet said:
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4: 6 nkjv)
So, my brothers and sisters, how wise or foolish are you?
Let us pray together.
"Lord, forgive us for our not being more wise in winning souls. We confess our ignorance and wrong in this. Help us Lord to do better. We know that the destiny of lost souls is at stake. Open doors of opportunity to witness to the truth. Teach us how to win souls."
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