God’s servants are often men and women of many parts. They engage in sterling activities that stand them out before God and man. Paul the Apostle was such a man. He was a soul-winner, preacher and ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wanted nothing more than to win more souls among the various sections of Jewish and Gentile nations. He was bent on making progress, being profitable, winning souls and gaining “the more.”

Importantly, he was focused on doing the work with the wisdom of God. If we are going to do the work of soul-winning effectively, we need the same wisdom. The Scripture says: “He that winneth souls is wise.” In fact, before sending out the 12, Jesus warned, “be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

As disciples and soul-winners, Christ promises to “give (us) a mouth and wisdom, which all (our) adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” He would give us the wisdom to throw out the gospel net and draw in sinners from the sea of humanity. This is not human, acquired wisdom, but “the wisdom of God” needed to present the gospel until it becomes relevant, meaningful and profitable, and draws people to Christ. It is Christ, whom we received, who lives and acts in us, and speaks through us, that gives us this wisdom, which He also manifested while on earth. We receive the wisdom by seeking it in prayer of faith and consecration. When we receive it, “we speak wisdom … not the wisdom of this world” derived from philosophy, psychology, worldly upbringing and training that will “come to nought” when it comes to winning souls for the Lord.

Apostle Paul gives an example of himself, of how he built from the foundation and brought people to the church. The Lord gave him the grace and strength to be “a wise master builder.” All believers also need that grace, strength and wisdom to win souls. Besides, we must know “the holy scriptures, which are able to make (us) wise” unto salvation, service and soul-winning.

We need wisdom in soul-winning because the soul-winner is likened to, one, a fisher of men; two, a farmer (the sower of the seed of the word of God); three, an ambassador of Christ (pleading with men to come to the Lord); four, an advocate (reasoning with men, saying, why will you die in your sins?); five, a peacemaker (leading men to make peace with God); six, an herald (announcing the coming of the King); seven, a preacher (proclaiming the saving gospel).

Considering these qualities, we need the wisdom of the fisherman, the farmer, reaper, harvester, lawyer, ambassador and peacemaker to win souls effectively. This wisdom is not passive or inactive. It is not Weakness, Inactivity, Selfishness, Dormancy, Omission or Meaninglessness (WISDOM).

Wisdom is Work, Industriousness, Selflessness (sacrificial and reaching out), Devotion, Obedience and Mastery over self. Inactive wisdom causes poverty in all areas of life. It makes one unproductive and unprofitable. But if we have active and positive wisdom, we will be productive and fruitful in soul-winning and other human endeavours.

Apostle Paul was a servant and progressive soul-winner. He was resolute not to pass through this world like a bird without making any mark. “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” We pass through this life, but once and God expects us to make a mark in it. We must leave something behind as a legacy in Christian service before we leave this world. Nothing else in life can be compared to the service to God. Just as everything in nature serves a purpose, children of God who are recreated, renewed and redeemed by the Lord must serve. It is that servanthood that shows that we are grateful for the life and salvation God has given to us. The Lord wants us to be servants. “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.” It is the servanthood that makes us know we are following Christ. He laid the example Himself and gave the pattern of “he that serveth.” We need to serve in preaching the gospel.

• Further Reading (King James Version): 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Proverbs 11:30; Matthew 10:16; Luke 21:15; 1 Corinthians 1:21,30; 2:6-8; 3:10; 2 Timothy 3:15. 1 Corinthians 9:16,19; Matthew 20:25,26; Luke 22:25-27; Romans 1:14-16; 6:22; 2 Corinthians 4:5.