QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SUCCESSFUL PERSONAL WORKER
HE MUST BE A POSSESSOR
He must not only be a professor, but also a possessor. He himself must radiate the joy, the deep peace, and sense of security that comes from a life in fellowship with God before he can interest others in accepting Christ as Savior and Lord.
It is not difficult for the one with whom he is dealing to soon detect whether or not he is sincere and earnest concerning the tremendous truth he declares.
Sincerity, however, does not mean a long, sad countenance such as the professional Pharisee possessed.
This Scripture translation is clear concerning this:
But, whenever you fast [or perform a duty], pour perfume on your hair and wash your face, that it may not be apparent to men that you are fasting, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father—He who sees in secret—will recompense you. (Matthew 6:17–18 WEY)
The world is looking for a bright and cheerful countenance. No one enjoys meeting a grouch. The child of God can be cheerful always because his trust in his Father makes him absolutely unafraid in every circumstance.
HE MUST BE A LOVER OF SOULS
The greatest qualification for the successful personal worker is a genuine love for men and women. The successful personal worker’s attitude is this: “I love them as though I had died for them.”
If a Christian discovers that he does not possess this love, he may receive it by claiming it in Christ. “My God shall abundantly supply all your need” (Philippians 4:19 DBY). He will meet this need of love.
Meditation in the Word will also bring to us a love for the unsaved and show us our responsibilities as personal workers.
All this is the work of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the Ministry of Reconciliation—to proclaim that God, in Christ, was reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning men’s offenses against them, and that he had entrusted us with the Message of this reconciliation. It is, then, on Christ’s behalf that we are acting as ambassadors. (2 Corinthians 5:18–20 TCNT)
God has completely reconciled the world unto Himself, but we must bring to them the message of reconciliation. The ministry of reconciliation in Christ will be of no effect if we do not bring it to them.
If a man could be saved without hearing the gospel, Christ would not have given the commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations; baptize them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 WEY).
We are His ambassadors. God is beseeching through us. He has no other contact with the lost world. This is why we must love them as Christ loved them. We must be as anxious to bring to them the message of reconciliation as though we had, in the place of Christ, died for their redemption.
It was this love that made David Livingstone a successful missionary in the heart of Africa. Many whom he had contacted had not been able to understand the language he had spoken, but long after he passed from them, whenever his name was mentioned, their faces shone with joy. They had not been able to understand his words, but they had understood the love that burned in his own heart for them. All with whom we contact will respond to the love of Christ within our hearts for them.
HE MUST BE A WISE FISHERMAN
Wisdom belongs to us as our inheritance in Christ.
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:30). In every situation, Christ knew just what to say and what to do. His wisdom is ours. For every difficult situation that we encounter, we may claim His wisdom, His understanding of the situation.
In every instance, we must be courteous and considerate of the person with whom we are dealing. A personal worker must never lose his temper, become impatient or argumentative. We are more anxious to win souls than to win an argument.
With His wisdom, what can hinder anyone from becoming a most successful soul winner?
HE MUST BE ALERT IN THE KING’S BUSINESS AND ACTIVE IN HIS SERVICE
The first step in becoming a personal worker is starting, right now, to work toward the saving of precious souls.
Regardless of how awkward or feeble one may feel that his efforts are, it is certainly better to begin today than to wait until he becomes more scientific in his methods. Waiting to become an efficient personal worker has the same results as waiting to be saved.
A person who says, “I cannot do personal work because I do not know how to do it” may be compared to someone who says, “I cannot go into the water until I learn to swim.”
Efficiency is the result of experience. Experience is the best practical teacher. Although one is not experienced when he first begins, people will respect and respond to one who brings them a positive, simple, earnest entreaty concerning Christ as Savior.
Many inexperienced young workers have been honored by God. Regardless of experience, our aim should be to win souls for Christ at every opportunity.
When asked the nature of his business, a certain Christian man replied, “I have a shoe store by which I support myself, but my business is to win souls for Christ.”
Many times, it is impossible to speak personally to an individual whom we contact. In crowded places such as street cars, trains, buses, or large gatherings, it is often well to quietly hand a tract to those whom we meet. Everyone can give out tracts. Everyone should possess a good supply of tracts that clearly and simply explain the need and way of salvation.
Over every tract, the personal worker should breathe a prayer in the name of Jesus. He says, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” (John 16:23).
How limitless the ministry of tracts can become.
Always carry a good selection of tracts. Always be looking for opportunities to give them away. Thousands have been saved because someone was faithful in handing out tracts.
Everyone may become a successful personal worker. We have all received the same righteousness, the same ability, the same wisdom, and the same love. We all possess the same rights in prayer. If a man will give himself to study, meditation, and prayer, and be on the alert for opportunities, the Lord will prosper his endeavors to win souls.
QUESTIONS
- Show why the personal worker must be a possessor.
- Give the greatest qualification for a personal worker.
- If a Christian feels a lack of wisdom, what should he do?
- Why should one not wait to become efficient before beginning to do personal work?
- Why may everyone become a successful personal worker?