Winner of souls is wise
Winner of souls is wise
Thus says the Scripture: “He who wins souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30).
This can be a spiritual, social, familial, and administrative principle.
We find that Saint Paul the Apostle spoke about this in his ministry, saying:
“For though I am free from all men, I 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 weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (1 Cor. 9:19, 20, 22)
The phrase “wins people” means: he wins them for God and His Kingdom.
And in order to win people, he speaks to them with words that suit them and that they can accept, and by which he can convince them.
The Jews believe in the books of the Old Testament—he speaks to them from the Old Testament.
Those without the Law—he speaks to them with logic, philosophy, and reason.
He speaks to each person in the way suitable for him, that he may win every person for the Lord.
This principle applies to those who preach the name of Christ in any place.
For example, in Black Africa, they have a kind of culture and customs, a way of thinking which we cannot force them to change.
Thus, since we introduced Christianity into their lands, we left them to their customs and traditions, such as using drums in their prayers (as the Ethiopians do, for example).
What matters is that we give them the correct faith and the sound doctrine, and leave them in the traditions they are accustomed to so long as they are not against the rules of faith.
One who desires to win people in every way must study the psychology of people and know the method suitable for them by which he may win them.
Among those whom we mention with pride is Saint Didymus the Blind.
He was able to convince many philosophers of his days of the Christian faith.
He spoke to them with reason, logic, and philosophy until he led them to faith.
He also debated them with great respect.
In his dialogue with them he avoided insulting them or mocking their thinking as pagans.
Unlike some people who enter discussions with others of opposing thought, and their dialogue turns into quarrel and noise; by such a method they will not win them.
Indeed, “he who wins souls is wise.”
If he debates someone who disagrees with him in doctrine, faith, or principles, he does so with a correct method that does not hurt his feelings.
Respect people—they will respect you, and you will win them.
This principle—as in evangelism—also applies in spirituality in general.
The winner of souls is wise in reaching the result he seeks.
And he is also wise in the means he uses to reach it.
He wins people for their benefit, for his own benefit, and for the building of the Kingdom.
Thus he gains a triple victory: he wins the people—meaning he saves them from their errors, guides them, and changes their course to the right path; and he wins them for himself, being in peace, reconciliation, and inner calm.
The winner of souls is wise—for in winning souls he becomes loved by all and trusted by all.
The first to whom the phrase “He who wins souls is wise” applies is God—blessed be His name—in His limitless wisdom and His love for souls and winning them.
God did this with the nations who did not know Him, did not believe in Him or in His prophets or in the Holy Scriptures.
He endured them patiently until He won them.
God also won the atheists who were in Russia and Romania during the communist rule (70 years).
He won them with amazing long-suffering.
He was patient with them and did not destroy them until they returned to faith again.
The Lord Christ—in winning souls—also forgave His crucifiers (Luke 23:34).
And He won many who were far from Him, such as the Samaritans.
Once, He was heading to Jerusalem and passed by a Samaritan village that closed its doors before Him.
“And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’ But He turned and rebuked them and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.’” (Luke 9:54–56)
Thus, He did not grow angry with them but endured them patiently.
The Lord continued His patience with the Samaritans until He guided the Samaritan woman, and afterward the people of Samaria believed in Him (John 4).
Moses the Prophet also did not grow angry with his sister Miriam when she spoke against him because he had married an Ethiopian woman (Num. 12:1), joining Aaron against him.
To the extent that the Lord struck her with leprosy, “So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, ‘Please heal her, O God, I pray!’” (Num. 12:13).
Moses won his sister and did not cut his connection with her.
Abigail also, when David had decided to kill her husband Nabal the Carmelite, saying:
“So God do to the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light!” (1 Sam. 25:22)
Abigail acted with wisdom, presented him with a gift, bowed at his feet, and addressed him with the words “my lord” and “your maidservant.”
In deep humility she advised him not to avenge himself, lest this become a stumbling block of heart for him when God appoints him ruler over the land…
By her wisdom she convinced him, until he said to her:
“Blessed be 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.” (1 Sam. 25:33)
Thus with wisdom she saved her husband’s life and prevented David from vengeance.
Truly, the winner of souls puts before him:
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Prov. 15:1)
Joseph the Righteous also won his brothers by not taking revenge on them.
The winner of souls, when in a position of strength, does not use his strength against one weaker than himself.
He does not win people by violence, but wins by kindness, gentleness, and love.
Losing people is not a gain—but winning them is the gain.
The wise winner of souls wins all souls, of every kind.
He wins the righteous by dealing with them and gaining their love, goodwill, and prayers.
He wins the weary by having compassion on them.
He wins friends and members of his family.
He tries to win all, as the Lord said:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)
You can win the weary by carrying their burden with them, as 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.” (Isa. 61:1)
The wise winner of souls wins the weary by encouragement.
This includes little children—by encouraging them we gain their love.
Even those who are psychologically tired—or even despairing—we also win them by encouragement.
As the Scripture says:
“Comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.” (1 Thess. 5:14)
Those whose spirits have fallen and whose souls have become small in their own eyes—encourage them and be patient with them.
Win them by patience.
The Lord Christ was patient with the disciples in their mistakes—whether when they were with Him, or during His crucifixion, or after His resurrection.
He was patient with the one who denied, the one who fled, and the one who doubted His resurrection.
You too can win people through endurance, meekness, and kindness.
Try to win everyone—including enemies and offenders—according to the Lord’s command in (Matt. 5:44).
Win them by endurance and by love.
Saint John Chrysostom said:
“There is a way by which you can destroy your enemy—and that is to turn the enemy into a friend.”
For if he becomes a friend, you have destroyed his enmity and won him…
But by revenge you lose him, and lose yourself also.
Thus the Lord Christ gave us the commandments of the second mile and the other cheek (Matt. 5:39, 41).
Saint Paul the Apostle also 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.” (Rom. 12:20)
Meaning: the love you showed him becomes like coals of fire on his head, he becomes ashamed of your love and your good treatment.
Also win friends—keep their love, and do not lose them.
Among the things that make a person lose his friends are excessive reproach and severe reproach.
But if you overlook your friend’s mistake and let the matter pass, you win him.
As the poet said:
“If you reproach your friend for every matter,
You will not find the one who is not reproached.”
Meaning: you will find no friend to reproach, for all will flee from you.
But if you reproach, let it be with gentleness, and not for everything.
Let your expression be controlled—do not raise your voice, do not become harsh in your tone, and do not use severe words.
And if we are required to turn enemies into friends,
What folly then it would be to turn a friend into an enemy?!
Therefore preserve your friends—do not quarrel.
And if you quarrel, let not your quarrel last long; rather be quick to reconcile and maintain the unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4).
We say this also in the family environment.
The wise husband is characterized by good dealing, kind speech, respect for the partner of life, and understanding of circumstances.
And likewise the wife.
As for raising children, wisdom requires: few commands and few rebukes, avoiding harshness and severity, and considering the nature of their age.
Otherwise the children will long for the day they can leave the house!
Wise parents are keen to gain the love of their children—through compassion, tenderness, giving, kind treatment, and sweet words.
And that they take toward their children the position of friendship, not authority.
People can also be won by praise, by gifts, by love, and by respect.
How beautiful was the love between Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi (Ruth 1).
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