Volume 26: Wise Enough to Care

Day 130 Devotional

WISE ENOUGH TO CARE

When I was sixteen years old, God met me at Deliverance Temple Church of God in Christ. He interrupted the course of my life, opened my eyes to the truth of Jesus Christ, and rescued me from a path that was leading to destruction. What amazes me is that the same God who met me there continues to meet people today. I have watched Him save people in living room Bible studies, grocery stores, restaurants, nursing homes, on street corners, at barbecues, in parking lots, and during ordinary conversations that seemed insignificant at the time. The methods may change, but the mission has never changed. God is still seeking and saving the lost.

If you truly understand what God has saved you from, it becomes difficult to remain silent. If you genuinely believe that eternal life is found only in Christ and that every person will spend eternity somewhere, how can you keep your faith hidden in a dying world? If a doctor discovered the cure for a deadly disease, we would expect him to share it. Yet many believers possess the message of eternal life and rarely speak of it. Somewhere along the way, many Christians have become more concerned with protecting their comfort than participating in Christ’s mission.

HEAVEN CALLS SOUL-WINNING WISDOM

One of the most overlooked verses in Scripture says, “…and he that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). Notice that Scripture does not merely call soul-winning important. It calls it wisdom.

In a culture that often measures wisdom by education, income, influence, or achievement, God uses a different standard. Heaven considers it wise when a believer invests in what will last forever. Careers matter. Families matter. Responsibilities matter. But every earthly accomplishment eventually fades. Souls do not. Every person you encounter will spend eternity either in the presence of God or separated from Him forever. Wisdom recognizes that eternal realities outweigh temporary concerns.

This is why Jesus spent so much of His earthly ministry pursuing people. He sought tax collectors, fishermen, outcasts, sinners, and those rejected by society. He did not merely come to improve lives. He came to save souls. Luke 19:10 declares, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” If we claim to follow Christ while having little concern for lost people, we are following a version of Christianity that Jesus never modeled.

YOUR LIFE IS PREACHING SOMETHING

Many believers hear the phrase “winning souls” and immediately think of standing behind a pulpit. Yet Scripture presents a much broader picture. Soul-winning includes sharing the gospel, discipling new believers, restoring those who have wandered, praying for the lost, and living a life that points people toward Christ.

James writes, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death” (James 5:19-20). God uses ordinary people to participate in extraordinary work. He uses conversations. He uses hospitality. He uses acts of love. He uses testimony. He uses faithful discipleship. He uses believers who care enough to engage people rather than ignore them.

The truth is that every believer is preaching something. Our priorities preach. Our conversations preach. Our schedules preach. Our social media posts preach. Our willingness—or unwillingness—to speak about Christ preaches. The question is whether our lives are directing people toward Jesus or away from Him.

GOD NEVER INTENDED FOR SALVATION TO END WITH YOU

One of the greatest dangers in modern Christianity is treating salvation as a personal possession rather than a divine assignment. Many believers rejoice that their names are written in Heaven while showing little concern for the names that are not.

Yet throughout Scripture, God repeatedly calls His people to participate in His redemptive work. Daniel 12:3 says, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” God places eternal significance on helping people find righteousness through faith in Him.

This does not mean we save people through our own efforts. Only Jesus saves. We cannot change hearts, forgive sins, or produce repentance. That work belongs to God alone. However, God has chosen to use His people as instruments through which the gospel is proclaimed. As Paul wrote, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). We are responsible for faithfulness. God is responsible for the results.

WHO WILL BE IN HEAVEN BECAUSE OF YOU?

That question should challenge every believer. Not because salvation is earned through works, but because genuine love for Christ inevitably produces concern for people. The closer we grow to the heart of God, the more we care about what He cares about. And Scripture repeatedly reveals that God cares deeply about the lost.

One day, every business deal, every promotion, every possession, and every earthly accomplishment will be left behind. What will remain are the souls of men and women who were impacted by the gospel. The wise understand this now. They refuse to waste their lives pursuing temporary applause while neglecting eternal assignments.

If Christ truly rescued you from sin, death, and a burning hell, then the most loving thing you can do is help someone else find Him. Invite someone to church. Start a Bible study. Share your testimony. Pray with a neighbor. Disciple a new believer. Speak about Jesus with courage and compassion. The gospel is too valuable to keep to yourself.

The same God who met me at sixteen years old is still meeting people today. The question is whether you will allow Him to use you to help bring others into the faith.