What Is Good for the Giver and the Soulwinner

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake…theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 5:3 & 10]

Discovering that the only two actions that result in the same blessings in Matthew 5 are “giving” and “soulwinning” was like finding a treasure. And, it is indeed a treasure to those who would take the time to observe and soak themselves in this truth that many have so comfortably done away with. Few years ago, I remember my Pastor saying to me that “there are two people God cannot do without – a giver and a soulwinner”, and I also remember making up my mind that day to always be both.

To step back a little, many have wondered what it means to be “poor in spirit”, so I think it’ll be a good question to answer first. Poor in spirit does not mean living an impoverished life or being “poor in one’s spirit” as many have erroneously believed. 2 Corinthians 8:9 states with no ambiguity that “though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich”. Here, Paul was not referring to spiritual riches since Jesus was never spiritually poor, being heir of all things; rather, the Apostle was speaking of material abundance. Also, we see in 2 Peter 1:3 that God has given us “all things that pertain to life and godliness”, so there is no way we could be termed as “poor in our spirits”. What, then, does it mean to be poor in spirit?

To be poor in spirit is to have all and yet have nothing. It is to possess all things but be willing at any point to lay them aside for Jesus or for someone else. To be poor in spirit is to hold on to nothing and live without holding back in giving. In order to be that man, there should be nothing [absolutely nothing] that is too big for the Christian to give. Every monetary figure that is too big to give to God or to someone else is not worthy to be in a Christian’s possession; in fact, it is dangerous as it is inevitably Lord over such a one. Can God tell you to give that expensive possession [pen, watch, car, or house] you just purchased, after much saving, and you will do it without batting an eyelid?

The true foundation of being poor in spirit is trust in the Lord and His Word; if you believe [truly believe] in His Majesty and eternal provision for you, giving will never be a hassle. You may be a student, but have you ever imagined giving a thousand dollars [or whatever amount some may consider ‘outrageous’]; if it has never crossed your mind, then maybe you are not trusting of God enough or you are not bringing forth enough from within to be called that man in Matthew 5:3. You should, at the very least, have a desire to give that much and even greater.

There’s not much to be said about the soulwinner, since many are already acquainted with him, but it is important to know him a little more. We refer to the one that is persecuted for righteousness sake as the soulwinner, because you cannot be persecuted unless you are standing up for Christ and proclaiming Him without reserve. And, if you are doing that, then you are already a soulwinner. Soulwinning is a consistent heart’s cry. It is a lifestyle of prayer with tears, love, and the consequent joy. The true soulwinner does not just talk. He mourns in intercession for lost souls, and when he is comforted through the salvation of that soul, it is with joy beyond human comprehension.

In Proverbs 11:30, we see that “he that winneth souls is wise”, but God gives us more light into the reward for the soulwinner when He moves a little further to say “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmaments and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever”, associating the soulwinner with wisdom. What a blessing! To shine as the firmaments means that such people will glow with special studs on their crowns in heaven. They’ll be the ‘superstars’ in God’s eyes.

It may also be great to know that the soulwinner is a giver and the giver is a soulwinner. Giving, first and foremost, should be primarily towards the things of the kingdom and one’s local church assembly before any other charitable organization or individual. This is because giving in church supports soulwinning through sponsorship of media evangelism, church missions, and other means of reaching the lost. As such, the giver indirectly wins souls that are credited to his account by God. The soulwinner, on the other hand, gives his time, effort, and prayers into the life of the soul he wants to lead to Christ. Do you see now why both have the same reward?

When Matthew 5 says “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”, it is saying something important. The kingdom of heaven is God’s government in the earth established through the church and headed by Jesus. Therefore, it should never be a surprise that those who are selected by the HolyGhost to lead in His house are the soulwinners and givers, because “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Never think it is a result of favoritism from the Pastor; no, it is a spiritual principle that begets its own results automatically.

If you have not started winning souls unto God through evangelism, now is the time to start. You may think “but how”? The only answer is “just start”. Never consider what you’ll tell people. Open your mouth and just trust the HolySpirit to fill it with words. And, please, don’t be afraid to make mistakes; they are a part of the process of mastering the lifestyle of a soulwinner. If you haven’t started giving big also, now is the time to start. Give out of love and trust; have no attachment to any material thing, and you’ll truly be ready to be master over all things.

Please share your testimonies and comments on the subject of giving and soulwinning with the rest of us. We’re always so glad to hear from you; God bless you!