many mountains

Proverbs 11:30 Meaning By Charles Spurgeon

Proverbs 11 30 Meaning

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that win souls is wise.”—Proverbs 11:30.

Let us begin by examining the phrase “the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.” To win souls, it is necessary to have an abundance of life within before it can overflow to others. 

It is futile to strive to win souls if you are not bearing fruit in your own lives. The Lord cannot be served by lips unless He is served by life. How can you preach His message with your tongues while preaching the devil’s gospel with your hands, feet, and hearts? We must first live and bear personal fruit for divine glory before we may convert others. Let us examine the believer’s personal life as it relates to his service to others.

The Fruit Of The Righteous Is A Tree Of Life

Outward Life Is A Fruit From Him

This reality will be examined through a few textual observations; first, let us note that the believer’s outward life is a fruit from him. This is significant. “The fruit of the righteous”—his life—is not something he wears, but something that grows out of him. It is not separate clothing, but a part of him. 

True Godliness From A Renovated Nature

The true man’s religion is himself, not a disguise. True godliness springs from a renovated nature, not from pious hothouse enthusiasm. Isn’t it normal for a vine to grow grapes? When does a palm tree bear date? It’s as natural as seeing Sodom apples on Sodom trees and noxious plants producing poisonous berries. 

When God gives His people a new nature, the life that springs from it is spontaneous. A man who has a religion that is not part of himself will eventually learn that it is pointless. A man who wears his piety like a carnival mask, changing from saint to barbarian, angel to devil, John to Judas, benefactor to bully, knows what formalism and hypocrisy can do for him, but he has no residue of true religion. Fig trees don’t just grow figs and thorns on certain days; they are loyal to nature at all times.

They are consistent if they limit their religion to the correct time for wearing their sacred pomposities; but those who have learned what Christianity knows that it is far more than a performance, a form, or a profession. 

Christianity Is A Way Of Life

Much as I admire the Christian creed, I will admit that true Christianity is a way of life. It is a divine spark of heaven’s own flame that falls into the human bosom and burns within, consuming all that is concealed in the soul, and then bursting forth as a heavenly life, to be seen and felt by others around. 

A regenerate individual becomes like the bush in Horeb, which was all aglow with Deity, because of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling power. The God within him shines so brightly that the air surrounding him is holy, and people who look at him are blessed.

Faith Grows Out Of Our Souls

Dear brethren, we must ensure that our faith grows out of our souls. “You must not do this, or that,” several lecturers warn, while “You must do this, and you must do that.” However, there is a doctrine that, despite being frequently twisted, is a glorious truth and should be cherished in your hearts.” You are under grace, not the law “So you obey God’s will not to earn heaven or to avoid divine wrath, but because there is a life in you that strives after what is holy, pure, right, and true, and cannot bear evil. 

You are careful to maintain good works, not from either legal hopes or legal fears, but because there is a holy thing within you, born of God, which seeks, according to its nature, to do that which is pleasing to God. 

Look for signs that your religion is real, true, natural, and vibrant, rather than artificial, restricted, superficial, a product of times, days, and places, a fungus spawned by elation, a fermentation sparked by meetings, and stirred by oratory. 

Exist In Various Walks Of Life

In order to live in the wilderness or in a crowd, we need a religion that can exist in various walks of life and companies. 

Give me the godliness that is seen at home, especially around the fireside, for it is never more lovely than there; that is seen in the conflict and tussle of everyday business between scoffers and gainsayers, and Christian men. 

Show me the faith that can withstand the world’s lynx eyes and go bravely where all scowl with ferocious hateful eyes, as well as where there are sympathizers to sympathize with and friends to judge leniently. 

May you be filled with the Spirit’s life, and may your entire conduct and discourse reflect that indwelling!

Fruit Worthy Of His Character

Next, a Christian’s fruit is worthy of his character: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.” Each tree is known for its fruit. “He that does righteousness is righteous,” says the Bible, “he that does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.” However, we admit we are justified by a faith that generates deeds, and that the faith of devils is the faith that does not produce good behavior. Saving faith appropriates the finished work of Jesus and saves alone, for we are justified by faith alone, but faith alone cannot save anyone. We are saved by faith alone, but not by faith alone, for true faith saves the soul and purifies the character. 

You can pray as pretty as anyone, and practice acts of external piety and any other hypocrite, but you are misled if you expect to be right in the end. So whether you are a lazy servant or a tyrant ruler, your fruit shows that you are a tree of Satan’s orchard and bear apples to his tooth. You may talk about being justified by faith, yet you will be among the worst liars in the lake of fire and brimstone, for you are guilty of the lie of saying, “I am a Christian,” when you are not. 

A fraudulent profession is one of the most heinous of lies because it causes the most disgrace to Christ and His followers. The fig tree will not bear thorns, and we will not collect grapes from thistles. Our lives are our trees, and we should all be ready to examine our own to see if we are bearing just fruit, for if we aren’t, then we aren’t righteous men.

Grace And The Gift Of God

Let it, however, never be forgotten that the fruit of the righteous, though it comes from him naturally, for his newborn nature yields the sweet fruit of obedience, yet it is always the result of grace and the gift of God. 

“From Me is thy fruit found.” is a lesson worth remembering. We can only bear fruit if we remain in Christ. The righteous will only thrive as a branch. When a branch blooms, “Not unto us, O Lord, but unto Thy name gives praise,” he sings, “not unto us, O Lord, but unto Thy name give praise.” 

Whether he succeeds or fails, he blames himself. Follow his lead. Accuse yourself of every flaw, weakness, and infirmity; and if you fall short of perfection,—and I am sure you do—account for it; but if there is any virtue, praise, genuine desire, genuine prayer, anything good, ascribe it to the Spirit of God. 

Remember, the righteous man is only righteous because God made him righteous, and the fruit of righteousness comes only from the divine sap within him. All honor and honor to God.

A Blessing To Others

The essential point of the chapter is that the Christian’s life, the fruit of his soul, becomes a blessing to others. Like a tree, it provides shade and food for all. It is a tree of life, an expression which I cannot fully work out as I would wish, for there is a world of instruction compressed into the illustration. That which to the believer himself is fruit becomes to others a tree: it is a singular metaphor, but not a lame one. As an acorn drops from oak, the fruit of holy living falls from the child of God; this holy living becomes influential and generates the best outcomes in others, just as the acorn grows into an oak and provides shade for the birds of the air. Holiness becomes a tree of life. I assume it refers to a living tree, one that gives and supports life in others. A fruit becomes a tree! A life tree! 

This is fantastic! Christ in the Christian generates a tree of life and character. The outward character is the fruit of the inner life; it grows from the fruit into a tree and yields fruit in others to God’s glory. 

Calming, Cooling, And Refreshing To Many Tired Hearts

Dear brothers and sisters, I know some of God’s saints who dwell very close to Him, and their very shadow is calming, cooling, and refreshing to many tired hearts. Young, elderly, and downcast have gone to them, sat under their shade, and poured out their worries, and they have been blessed to have their sympathy, be taught of the Lord’s faithfulness, and be guided in the road of wisdom. Knowing a few good men makes you wealthy. These men are living libraries of gospel truth, better than books. Not a mere post of deadwood bearing an inscription and decaying, but a vital, organized, fruit-producing plant of the Lord’s right-hand planting.

Saint Spiritually Nourish Others

Some saints not only soothe others but also spiritually nourish them. Well-trained Christians strengthen the weak and mend the wounds of the broken-hearted. Large-hearted Christians’ strong, courageous, generous gestures serve and elevate their fellow Christians. Seeing their patience in suffering, courage in peril, holy faith in God, and joy in adversity renew your own difficulties. The sanctified believer’s example heals and comforts his brethren in a thousand ways, helping them overcome anxiety and unbelief. Just as the leaves of the tree of life heal nations, so do saints’ words and acts.

And then what fruit, sweet to the taste of the godly, instructed believers to bear! We can never put our trust in men as much as we can in God, yet God can use the members to bless us in their own way, just as their Head is always ready to do. Jesus is the Tree of Life alone, but He uses some of His servants to be instrumental to us little trees of life, by whom He gives us the fruit of the same that He bears Himself, for He places it there, and it is Himself in His saints that causes them to bring forth golden apples, which bring joy to our souls. May we all be transformed into the likeness of our Lord, and may His fruit be found on our branches!

Life A Source Of Life For Men

We have buried many of the saints who have died, and among them were some of whom I will not mention but whose lives, as I look back on them, are still a source of life for me. I pray to God to help me become like them. Many of you knew them, and if you remember their holy, dedicated lives, the influence they left behind will continue to be a source of life for you. Even though they are dead, they still speak; listen to their impassioned exhortations! Even in their ashes, their beloved fires burn brightly; let them warm your hearts. Their noble examples are the church’s endowments; their children are ennobled and enriched as they reflect on their faith journey and labor of love. May we all be true benedictions to the churches in whose gardens we are planted, beloved! “I’m afraid I’m not much like a tree,” one says, “because I feel so weak and insignificant.” “If you have the faith of a mustard seed, you are the beginning of the tree beneath whose branches the birds of the air will still find a home.” People who despise and mock you now while you are a beginner will be pleased to borrow comfort from your example and experience one day if God blesses you.

Holy Life Will Be Seen From Above

But there’s one more thing I’d want to say about this. Keep in mind that the completion and development of the holy life will be seen from above. There is a city in which it is written, “amid the street, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life.” The tree of life is a heavenly plant, and so is Christian fruit; though not yet transplanted to the glory land, it is preparing for its final resting place. 

What is holiness if not the presence of heaven on earth? What is the essence of heaven if not living for God? What is uprightness, integrity, Christ-likeness? Aren’t these even more associated with heaven than harps, palms, and pure gold streets? Even if there were no place called heaven, that heart would have heavenly happiness that is set free from sin and made like the Lord Jesus. Holiness, purity, and loveliness of character make heaven within a man’s own bosom; and even if there were no place called heaven, that heart would have heavenly happiness that is set free from sin and made like the Lord Jesus. See, my brethren, how crucial it is for us to be truly righteous before God since the fruit of that righteousness will be a tree of life for others, as well as a tree of life in heaven above, world without end. O blessed Spirit, make it so, and Thou shalt have all the praise!

He Who Wins Souls Is Wise

This brings us to our second point of discussion. “He who wins souls is wise.” The two things are connected—the life first, then the effort—and what God has brought together, no one can separate.

Souls Which Need Winning

It is implied in our text that there are souls which need winning. Oh, it’s me! All men’s souls are lost by nature; you could go through the streets of London and exclaim, with sighs and tears, “Lost, lost, lost!” to the crowds of men you meet on those crowded pavements. There is a lost soul wherever Christ is not trusted, the Spirit has not made a new heart, and the soul has not come to the great Father. But here’s the good news: these lost souls can be redeemed. They are not hopelessly lost; God has not yet decreed that they will remain like they are forever. “He that is filthy, let him be filthy still; ” it is not yet said, but they are in the realm of hope, where mercy may reach them because they are spoken of as being capable of being won. They may yet be delivered, but the phrase “He that wins souls” suggests that it will take all of our efforts.

Win as Make Love

What exactly do we mean when we say “win”? We use it to make love. We talk of the bridegroom who gets his bride; and sometimes it takes a lot of love, a lot of pleading words, and a lot of wooing acts before the prized heart is all the suitor’s. I choose this explanation because it is the best in some ways because souls will have to be won for Christ in this manner in order for them to be married to Him. We must make love to the sinner for the sake of Christ; this is the only way to win hearts for Him. We must speak for Jesus and tell of His loveliness, just as Abraham’s servant served as a wooer in his place when he went to find a marriage for Isaac. Have you ever heard of the story before? Then, when you come home, look at how he talked about his master, his assets, and how Isaac was to be the heir to it all, and so on, before concluding his speech by urging Rebecca to accompany him. “Wilt thou go with this man?” she was asked. So the minister’s job is to praise his Master and his wealth, and then ask them, “Will you be wedded to Christ?” He who can succeed in this very delicate business is a wise man.

Win in Military Context

The phrase is sometimes used in a military context. We talk about taking control of a city, a castle, or a fight. We do not achieve victory by sleeping. Castles aren’t taken by men who are only half awake, believe me. To win a war, you must have the best talent, the most endurance, and the greatest courage. To storm fortresses that are thought to be nearly impregnable, men must study the arts of attack and burn the midnight oil; and, when the time comes for the assault, not a single soldier must be a laggard, but the entire force of artillery and manhood must be brought to bear on the point under attack. To carry a man’s heart by grace’s main force, to capture it, to tear down brass bars and smash iron gates into pieces, demands the use of a skill that only Christ can provide. To raise up the enormous battering-rams and shake every stone in the sinner’s conscience, to make his heart rock and reel within him for fear of the coming wrath,—in a word, to assail a soul with all the artillery of the gospel, it takes a wise man who is fully aroused to his work. To hold up the white flag of mercy, and if that is disregarded, to threaten until a breach is made, and then, with the sword of the Spirit in his hand, to capture the city, tear down the black flag of sin, and raise the banner of the cross, requires all the force that the best preacher can muster, and much more. Those whose souls are as cold as the Arctic regions, and whose energy is reduced to the vanishing point, are not likely to take the city of Mansoul for Prince Emmanuel. If you think you are going to win souls, you must throw your soul into your work, just as a warrior must throw his soul into a battle, or victory will not be yours.

Win as Building A Fortune

To amass huge wealth, we use the terms “to win” regarding building a fortune, and we all know that a billionaire must wake early, sit late, and eat the bread of caution, and it takes a lot of toiling and saving, and I’m not sure what else. We must go into soul-winning with the same zeal and focus of our minds that old Astor of New York did into accumulating his vast riches, which he has now left behind him. It is a race, and you know no one wins unless every muscle and sinew is strained. “They that run in a race run all, but one receives the prize; ” and that one is usually the one who had more strength than the rest; whether he had greater strength, he gave out everything he had, and we will not gain souls unless we mimic him in this.

Be A Soul Winner

Salvation Is A Joy Worthy Of The Angelic Harps

Gazing at a group of believers brings more delight than just thinking about them being saved. Salvation is a joy worthy of the angelic harps. Consider the anguish of the Saviour in the ransom of every one of His redeemed, the work of the Holy Spirit in every renewed heart, and the Father’s love resting on every regenerate: I couldn’t put into words all the joy that can be observed in several Christians if we merely look at what God has done for them, promised to them, and will fulfill in them if I took up my parable for a month. 

Bear Fruit 30,60,100 fold

But there is a wider field of thought, and I have been thinking about it all day, the concept of a large group of believers having the capacity to serve and bless others. We must not be so focused on ourselves that we miss what the Lord can do through us for others. Here are the coals of fire, but who shall describe the blaze which they may cause?

The Christian Church is a barracks where troops are drilled and readied for war. We should see the Christian Church as an army with flags, advancing into battle to win Christ’s victories, attack enemy strongholds, and add province after province to the Redeemer’s reign. 

We can think of converted people as wheat on the farm. Thank God it is there, and that the harvest has rewarded the sower; but it is far more soul-inspiring to consider those believers as potential living centers for the extension of Jesus’ kingdom, for when we see them sowing the fertile valleys of our land, and promising ere long to bring forth thirty, forty, fifty, and a hundredfold. The capacities of life are enormous. 

Be Lord’s Seed Year After Year

One becomes a thousand in a marvelously brief space. A few grains of wheat and a few real saints could quickly seed the world and convert all nations. Take one ear, store it well, sow it all, store it again next year, sow it all again, and the multiplication almost exceeds computation. 

Oh, that every Christian was the Lord’s seed corn year after year! With the power of the Holy Spirit, one Paul or Peter could have evangelized the entire world in a fraction of the time. 

Consider yourself as seeds of the world. That man who lives grandly, as if the entire existence of Christianity depended on him, and is determined to make the unsearchable riches of Christ known to all men within his reach.

What a harvest it would be if we, Christ’s seed corn, were all distributed and sowed properly, sprouting and producing the green blade and the grain in the ear. 

Again would it be fulfilled, “There shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; ”—a terrible position for it,—”the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.” 

May God provide us a sense of the Holy Spirit’s quickening power as we chat together, not so much about what God has done for us as what God might do by us, and how far we might prepare ourselves to be used by Him.

This article is an edited version of the article “The Soul-Winner’s Life and Work” from Charles Spurgeon’s book “The Soul Winner”. Check out our related posts for more information on this topic, or get a copy of the book from Amazon.

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