The Fruit of the Righteous: Soul-Winning as Eternal Work

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.—Proverbs 11:30

The righteous bear fruit through prayers, charities, virtuous character, and the influence by which they win souls to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. An ancient philosopher observed, "There is nothing great on earth but man, and nothing great in man but his soul." How shall we measure a soul's worth? By its nature and origin? By its capacities? By the duration of its being? By the cost of its redemption?

If no material universe could compensate the loss of a single soul, how transcendent is the work of rescuing the priceless soul from destruction and placing it among the crown-jewels of the King of Kings! The soul is fallen, guilty, perishing; he who rescues it confers an incalculable benefit. The effect of faithful Christian labour is an ever-swelling stream and ever-enlarging growth. All heaven witnesses to the precious fruit of righteousness.

The Christian worker gathers immortal souls out of darkness into Elohim's marvellous light. Ours is an apostolic mission. The Church was ordained for mutual help and recovery of the lost. God has blessed the saints that they may be blessings to their race. They who undertake this work purpose the gathering of immortal souls—work of inconceivable eternal value. In winning souls, we participate in heaven's own business.