◄ Proverbs 11:30 ►
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
Study Bible
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life
The imagery of a "tree of life" is deeply rooted in biblical symbolism, first appearing in Genesis 2:9, where it represents eternal life and divine blessing in the Garden of Eden. In Proverbs, the "fruit of the righteous" suggests the outcomes or results of a life lived in accordance with God's will. This fruit is not only beneficial to the individual but also to those around them, much like a tree that provides sustenance and shelter. The righteous, through their actions and character, offer life-giving wisdom and guidance to others, reflecting the life-giving nature of Christ, who is often seen as the ultimate fulfillment of the tree of life (Revelation 22:2). The righteous are those who live by faith, as seen in Habakkuk 2:4 and reiterated in Romans 1:17, and their lives bear witness to God's transformative power.

and he who wins souls is wise
Winning souls refers to the act of leading others to a knowledge of God and a relationship with Him. This phrase emphasizes the value of evangelism and discipleship, which are central to the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20. The wisdom in winning souls lies in understanding the eternal significance of salvation and the joy it brings in heaven, as noted in Luke 15:7. The wise person recognizes the importance of spiritual matters over temporal concerns, aligning with the teachings of Jesus, who prioritized the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). This wisdom is not merely intellectual but is deeply spiritual, reflecting the heart of God who desires all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). The act of winning souls is a reflection of Christ's mission on earth, as He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), and those who engage in this work are participating in the divine purpose.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Righteous
In the context of Proverbs, the righteous are those who live according to God's laws and principles, embodying wisdom and moral integrity.

2. Tree of Life
A symbol of eternal life and divine blessing, first mentioned in the Garden of Eden, representing the sustenance and flourishing that comes from living a righteous life.

3. Wise Soul-Winner
This refers to individuals who, through their wisdom and righteous living, lead others to righteousness and a relationship with God.
Teaching Points
The Impact of Righteous Living
Righteousness produces life-giving fruit, much like a tree that provides sustenance and shelter. Our lives should reflect God's righteousness, offering spiritual nourishment to those around us.

The Symbolism of the Tree of Life
Just as the Tree of Life in Eden was central to God's creation, our righteous actions should be central to our lives, providing a source of spiritual vitality and growth for ourselves and others.

Wisdom in Soul-Winning
Winning souls requires wisdom, discernment, and a deep understanding of God's Word. It involves living a life that attracts others to Christ through our actions and words.

The Eternal Perspective
Leading others to righteousness has eternal significance. Our efforts in soul-winning contribute to the eternal kingdom of God, reflecting the ultimate purpose of our Christian walk.

Practical Evangelism
Engage in practical ways to share the Gospel, such as building relationships, living out your faith authentically, and being prepared to share the hope within you.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of a "tree of life" in Proverbs 11:30 enhance our understanding of the impact of righteous living?

2. In what ways can we cultivate wisdom to become effective soul-winners in our daily lives?

3. How does the concept of winning souls relate to the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20?

4. Reflect on a time when someone's righteous actions influenced your spiritual journey. How can you emulate that influence in the lives of others?

5. What practical steps can you take this week to share the Gospel with someone in your community?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 2:9
The Tree of Life is first introduced in the Garden of Eden, symbolizing the life-giving and sustaining power of God.

Daniel 12:3
This verse speaks of those who lead many to righteousness shining like stars, paralleling the idea of the wise soul-winner in Proverbs 11:30.

Matthew 28:19-20
The Great Commission calls believers to make disciples of all nations, aligning with the concept of winning souls.

James 5:20
Emphasizes the importance of turning a sinner from the error of their ways, which is akin to winning souls and saving them from death.
Sermons
A Motto for a New YearC. A. Davis.Proverbs 11:30
A Wise WorkArchibald G. Brown.Proverbs 11:30
A Word to Winners of SoulsR. A. Griffin.Proverbs 11:30
How to WinD. L. Moody.Proverbs 11:30
How to Win Others to ChristG. F. Pentecost.Proverbs 11:30
Soul WinningC.H. Spurgeon Proverbs 11:30
Souls to be Won, not DrivenJ. Parker, D.D.Proverbs 11:30
Soul-WinningEdward Medley, B.A.Proverbs 11:30
Soul-WinningProverbs 11:30
Soul-WinningA. F. Barfield.Proverbs 11:30
Soul-WinningDean Hook.Proverbs 11:30
Success in Soul-WinningProverbs 11:30
The Best NewsProverbs 11:30
The Fruit of the RighteousJ. Cross, D.D., LL.D.Proverbs 11:30
The Joy of Winning SoulsF. E. Toyne.Proverbs 11:30
The Life of the GoodD. Thomas, D.D.Proverbs 11:30
The Mission Work of Winning SoulsH. F. Burder, M.A.Proverbs 11:30
The Soul WinnerC.H. Spurgeon Proverbs 11:30
The Soul-WinnerJohn Morgan.Proverbs 11:30
The Supreme WisdomE. E. Jenkins, M.A.Proverbs 11:30
The Winner of SoulsThos. Main, D.D.Proverbs 11:30
The Winner of Souls is WiseJohn N. Norton.Proverbs 11:30
The Winning of SoulsThe Congregational PulpitProverbs 11:30
The Wisdom of Winning SoulsC. S. Robinson.Proverbs 11:30
The Wisdom of Winning SoulsDiodoret, J. Beaumont.Proverbs 11:30
The Wise Man Wins SoulsJ. Parker, D.D.Proverbs 11:30
The Work and Responsibility of the MinistryJoseph Haslegrave, M.A.Proverbs 11:30
Two Ways of WisdomHenry Raikes, M.A.Proverbs 11:30
Winning First Your Own Soul, Then Other SoulsW. Arnot, D.D.Proverbs 11:30
Winning SoulsJ. F. Pridgeon.Proverbs 11:30
Wisdom's Brightest Crown and Hardest TaskE. Johnson Proverbs 11:30
The Pricelessness of IntegrityE. Johnson Proverbs 11:3-5, 8-11, 19, 20, 28, 31
Temporal and Eternal ContrastsE. Johnson Proverbs 11:27-31
People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Behaviour, Fruit, Lawlessness, Righteous, Righteousness, Souls, Takes, Taking, Tree, Violent, Winneth, Wins, Wise
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 11:30

     4526   tree of life
     8258   fruitfulness, spiritual
     8367   wisdom, importance of

Proverbs 11:30-31

     7150   righteous, the

Library
The Present Recompense
Chester Cathedral, Nave Service, Evening. May 1872. Proverbs xi. 31. "Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner." This is the key-note of the Book of Proverbs--that men are punished or rewarded according to their deeds in this life; nay, it is the key-note of the whole Old Testament. "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers; the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil, to root out …
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

The Waterer Watered
A sermon (No. 626) delivered on Sunday Morning, April 23, 1865, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "He that watereth shall be watered also himself."--Proverbs 11:25. The general principle is that in living for the good of others, we shall be profited also ourselves. We must not isolate our own interests, but feel that we live for others. This teaching is sustained by the analogy of nature, for in nature there is a law that no one thing can be independent of the rest of …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

Withholding Corn
A sermon (No. 642) delivered on Sunday morning, July 30, 1865, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it."--Proverbs 11:26. If I dared, I should always preach upon the comfortable promises and gracious doctrines of God's Word. I find it most delightful and easy work to expatiate upon those themes of revelation which abound in sweetness, and are full of savor and preciousness …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Soul Winner
A sermon (No. 1292) delivered on Thursday evening, January 20th, 1876, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."--Proverbs 11:30. I had very great joy last night--many of you know why but some do not. We held our annual meeting of the church, and it was a very pleasant sight to see so many brethren and sisters knit together in the heartiest love, welded together as one mass by common sympathies, …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

Soul Winning
A sermon (No. 850) delivered at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "He that winneth souls is wise."--Proverbs 11:30. The text does not say "he that winneth sovereigns is wise," though no doubt he thinks himself wise, and perhaps in a certain grovelling sense in these days of competition he must be so; but such wisdom is of the earth and ends with the earth; and there is another world where the currencies of Europe will not be accepted, nor their past possession be any sign …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

To Win Souls Requires Wisdom.
Text.--He that winneth souls is wise.--Proverbs xi. 30. THE most common definition of wisdom is, that it is the choice of the best end and the selection of the most appropriate means for the accomplishment of that end--the best adaptation of means to secure a desired end. "He that winneth souls," God says, "is wise." The object of this evening's lecture is to direct Christians in the use of means for accomplishing their infinitely desirable end, the salvation of souls. To-night I shall confine my …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

A Wise Minister Will be Successful.
Text.--He that winneth souls is wise.--Proverbs xi. 30. I PREACHED last Friday evening from the same text, on the method of dealing with sinners by private Christians. My object at this time is to take up the more public means of grace, with particular reference to the DUTIES OF MINISTERS. As I observed in my last lecture, wisdom is the choice and pursuit of the best end by the most appropriate means. The great end for which the Christian Ministry was appointed, is to glorify God in the salvation …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

How to Preach the Gospel.
Text.--He that winneth souls is wise.--Proverbs xi. 30. ONE of the last remarks in my last lecture, was this, that the text ascribes conversion to men. Winning souls is converting men. This evening I design to show, I. That several passages of Scripture ascribe conversion to men. II. That this is consistent with other passages which ascribe conversion to God. III. I purpose to discuss several further particulars which are deemed important, in regard to the preaching of the Gospel, and which show …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
OR, A DISCOURSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN'S DESIRES. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR As the tree is known by its fruit, so is the state of a man's heart known by his desires. The desires of the righteous are the touchstone or standard of Christian sincerity--the evidence of the new birth--the spiritual barometer of faith and grace--and the springs of obedience. Christ and him crucified is the ground of all our hopes--the foundation upon which all our desires after God and holiness are built--and the root …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

How those are to be Admonished who Decline the Office of Preaching Out of Too Great Humility, and those who Seize on it with Precipitate Haste.
(Admonition 26.) Differently to be admonished are those who, though able to preach worthily, are afraid by reason of excessive humility, and those whom imperfection or age forbids to preach, and yet precipitancy impells. For those who, though able to preach with profit, still shrink back through excessive humility are to be admonished to gather from consideration of a lesser matter how faulty they are in a greater one. For, if they were to hide from their indigent neighbours money which they possessed …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Sanctions of Moral Law, Natural and Governmental.
In the discussion of this subject, I shall show-- I. What constitute the sanctions of law. 1. The sanctions of law are the motives to obedience, the natural and the governmental consequences or results of obedience and of disobedience. 2. They are remuneratory, that is, they promise reward to obedience. 3. They are vindicatory, that is, they threaten the disobedient with punishment. 4. They are natural, that is, happiness is to some extent naturally connected with, and the necessary consequence of, …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Jesus, My Rock.
When the storm and the tempest are raging around me, Oh! where shall I flee to be safe from their shock? There are walls which no mortal hands built to surround me, A Refuge Eternal,--'Tis JESUS MY ROCK! When my heart is all sorrow, and trials aggrieve me, To whom can I safely my secrets unlock? No bosom (save one) has the power to relieve me, The bosom which bled for me, JESUS MY ROCK! When Life's gloomy curtain, at last, shall close o'er me, And the chill hand of death unexpectedly knock, I will …
John Ross Macduff—The Cities of Refuge: or, The Name of Jesus

George Muller, and the Secret of His
POWER IN PRAYER WHEN God wishes anew to teach His Church a truth that is not being understood or practised, He mostly does so by raising some man to be in word and deed a living witness to its blessedness. And so God has raised up in this nineteenth century, among others, George Muller to be His witness that He is indeed the Hearer of prayer. I know of no way in which the principal truths of God's word in regard to prayer can be more effectually illustrated and established than a short review …
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer

The Publication of the Gospel
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it [or of the preachers] P erhaps no one Psalm has given greater exercise to the skill and patience of commentators and critics, than the sixty-eighth. I suppose the difficulties do not properly belong to the Psalm, but arise from our ignorance of various circumstances to which the Psalmist alludes; which probably were, at that time, generally known and understood. The first verse is the same with the stated form of benediction …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

We Shall not be Curious in the Ranking of the Duties in which Christian Love...
We shall not be curious in the ranking of the duties in which Christian love should exercise itself. All the commandments of the second table are but branches of it: they might be reduced all to the works of righteousness and of mercy. But truly these are interwoven through other. Though mercy uses to be restricted to the showing of compassion upon men in misery, yet there is a righteousness in that mercy, and there is mercy in the most part of the acts of righteousness, as in not judging rashly, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Thoughts Upon Worldly-Riches. Sect. Ii.
TIMOTHY after his Conversion to the Christian Faith, being found to be a Man of great Parts, Learning, and Piety, and so every way qualified for the work of the Ministry, St. Paul who had planted a Church at Ephesus the Metropolis or chief City of all Asia, left him to dress and propagate it, after his departure from it, giving him Power to ordain Elders or Priests, and to visit and exercise Jurisdiction over them, to see they did not teach false Doctrines, 1 Tim. i. 3. That they be unblameable in …
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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