He who wins souls is wise

 

This is what the bible says “he who wins souls is wise” (Pr 11:30).

This can be a spiritual, social, family and managerial principle. And we see that St. Paul the Apostle talked about this during his service and said:

 

“For though I am free from all men, I have

made myself a servant to all, that I might win the

more; 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… to the weak I became as a weak,

that I might win the weak. I have become all things

to all men, that I might by all means save some”

(1Co 9:19-22).

The statement “wins people” means to win

them for God and His Kingdom. And to win

people one should talk to them with words

that are suitable for them, that they can

accept and that they can be convinced with.

Jews believe in Old Testament books, so he

talks to them with words from the Old Testament.

For those without a Law, he talks using logic,

philosophy and wisdom.

He talks to every person with what suits him to

win every person for the Lord.

This principle applies to those who preach the

name of Christ anywhere. For example in Black

Africa they have a special color of traditions, culture

and way of thinking that we cannot make them

change. So, ever since we brought Christianity to

their countries we left them practice their traditions

and culture, such as using drums in their prayers

(Such as what Ethiopians do for example).

The important thing is that we give them the

proper faith and the proper dogma and then we

leave them to do what they are accustomed to do

out of their traditions as long as they do not

contradict the basics of our faith.

He, who wants to win a nation, has to study the

psychology of people and get to know the suitable

way to win them.

A person that we proudly remember here

is: St. Daidimous the blind.

He managed to convince so many of the

philosophers of his age with the Christian belief. He

talked to them with wisdom, logic and philosophy

until he led them to the Christian faith. He argued

with them with great respect. In his dialogue with

them he avoided insulting of making fun of them for

the way they think as heathens. Not like people do,

who go into a dialogue with others of opposing

thinking, and this turns to a fight and uproar. And

this way they will never win them.

He, who wins souls, is wise. If he goes into a

dialogue with someone following a different dogma,

belief or principles he does it in the right way

without hurting the other’s feelings.

Respect people, they will respect you back and

you will win them.

This principle, like what happens in preaching,

applies too in spirituals in general.

He, who wins souls, is wise in reaching the

outcome he desires.

And wise also in the means he uses to reach it.

He wins people for their benefit, for his own benefit

and for the benefit of building the Lord’s Kingdom. So

he gains a triple winning. He wins people, by relieving

them from their sins, guiding them and changing their

path to the right path. He wins them for his benefit so

that he may be in peace, conciliation and soul

calmness.

He, who wins souls, is wise because as he wins

souls, he becomes loved by everyone and trustworthy

by them all.

The first on whom the statement “He, who

wins souls, is wise”, applies is God may His name

be blessed in His boundless wisdom and in His

love for the souls and winning them.

Like what God did with nations that did not know or

believe in Him, His prophets or His holy books.

He won atheists in Russia and Romania during the

Communist Ruling (70 years). He won them with his

amazing longsuffering. He was patient with them and

did not destroy them until they came back to the faith

again.

The Lord Christ, in winning souls, forgave

those who crucified Him (Lk 23:34) and won

many of those who were far from Him like

Samaritans, for example.

Once, he was aiming for Jerusalem and He passed

by a village for Samaritans who closed their doors in His

way. When his disciples, James and John, saw that they

said to Him: “Lord, do You want us to command fire to

come down from heaven and consume them, just as

Elijah did?”… He turned and rebuked them and said,

“You do not know what manner of spirit are you of. For

the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but

to save them.” (Lk 9:51-56). And thus the Lord did not

get angry with them but used his longsuffering with

them.

And the Lord’s patience with Samaritans continued until

he managed to guide the Samaritan woman. After that

people of Samaria believed in Him (Jn 4).

Prophet Moses also did not get angry with his

sister Miriam when she spoke against him when

he married an Ethiopian woman (Nu 12:1)

coupling against him with his brother Aaron.

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To the extent that when the Lord hit her with

leprosy “Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “Please

heal her, O God, I pray!”” (Nu 12:13). And Moses

won his sister and did not cut their relationship.

Abigail also; when David decided to kill Nabal of

Carmel, her husband, saying “May God do so, and

more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one

male of all who belong to him by morning light.” (1S

25:22), she acted with great wisdom, offered David a

present, and bowed down to the ground at his feet,

and addressed him as “my lord” and called herself

“your maidservant”. With great humility she advised

him not to avenge himself; otherwise, this will be an

offense of heart to him when the Lord appoints him

rules over Israel… She managed to convince him with

her wisdom so that he said to her “And blessed is

your advice and blessed are you, because you have

kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from

avenging myself with my own hand.” (1S 25:33).

This way, with wisdom she managed to win her

husband’s life and she won preventing David from

taking revenge.

Really, he, who wins souls, puts in front of

him the saying that “A soft answer turns away

wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Pr

15:1).

Joseph the righteous also won his brothers

by not avenging from them.

He, who wins souls; when he is in a powerful

position, does not use his power against those who

are weaker than he is. And does not win people with

violence, but rather wins them with kindheartedness,

kindness and love. Losing people is not a gain but

winning them is the gain.

He, who wins souls, who is wise, wins all

souls of all types.

He wins those who are righteous by dealing with

them and gaining their love, content and prayers for

him. He wins those who labor by sympathizing with

them. He wins his friends and family.

He tries to win everyone, as the Lord says “Come

to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I

will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28). You can win those

who labor by carrying their labor for them. Like what

the Lord said “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good

tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the

brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are

bound;” (Is 61:1).

He, who wins souls, the wise, wins the souls

of those who labor with encouragement.

Whether they are young children, from whom we

win respect by encouragement; or the miserable

ones, and even the desperate ones, who can win

using encouragement too. As the bible says “comfort

the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with

all.” (1Th 5:14), meaning those with low morale, who

started to see themselves small in their own eyes,

encourage them and be patient with them. Win them

with patience.

The Lord Christ was patient with his

disciples in the mistakes they made, whether

when they were with him, at the time of His

crucifying, or after His resurrection. He was patient

with him who denied, with him who ran away and

with him who doubted his resurrection.

You can also learn to win people by bearing with

them and being gentle and kindhearted with them.

Try to win all, including enemies and spiteful

users.

According to the Lord’s commandment in (Mt

5:44), win them by bearing with them and loving

them. St. John Chrysostom (Golden Mouth) said:

“There is a way by which you can eliminate your

enemy, and it is to convert your enemy into a friend”.

That means that if he became your friend you would

have eliminated his enmity and won him… but with

avenge you lose him and lose yourself too. Thus our

Lord Jesus Christ gave us the commandments of the

second mile and the other cheek (Mt 5:39-41).

And St. Paul the Apostle says “If your enemy is

hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head”

(Ro 12:20, 21). This means that the love you treat

him with will be like coals of fire on his head, so he

will be embarrassed of your love and of your good

treatment.

Also win friends, and keep their love and do

not lose it.

Among the things that make someone lose his

friends: too much rebuking and too strong rebuking.

If you ignore your friend’s mistake and let go, you

win him.

And the poet says:

If in all matter you were rebuking

your friend you will not find someone to rebuke

This means that you will not find a friend to

rebuke because you will be repulsive for everyone.

But if you rebuke, let it be gentle, and not on

everything, and may your features be controlled:

your voice may not get loud, your tone should not get

aggressive and your words may not be harsh.

And if we are requested to convert our

enemies to friends, then how stupid might it be

to convert a friend into an enemy?!

So keep your friends and do not quarrel with

them; and if you do, do not make it last for long, but

be aiming for making amends fast to keep the unity

of the Spirit (Eph 4).

We also say that in the family environment. The

wise husband can be characterized by good

treatment, nice words, respect for his life partner and

understanding of situations and circumstances. And

so the wife should be. As for raising children, wisdom

requires: less orders and admonishment, staying

away from firmness and aggression and taking into

consideration the age of children. Otherwise, children

will be looking forward to the time they leave the

house! Wise parents make sure they gain the love of

their children with kindness, tenderness, giving, good

treatment and sweet words. And they have to make

friends with their children rather than exercising

power on them.

Winning people can also be achieved through

complimenting them, giving presents, love and

respect.

How lovely was the love between Ruth and her

mother-in-law Naomi (Ru 1)?