“A Tree Is Known By Its Fruit”

Have you ever had someone betray you? Especially someone who is close to you, or professes to be close to you, maybe even love you?

People are not always who they seem to be. Many people profess to be Christians but are “false brethren,” to use the Apostle Paul’s phrase. Yet many will cloak what they say in Christianity, acting as if they are followers of Christ, yet are far from it in reality.

But how are we supposed to know? You can’t go by a person’s words. Anyone can say anything but look at their actions. How do they act, as opposed to how they talk? How do they treat their fellow man? How do they treat YOU?

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven,” Jesus told us in Matthew 7. 

Do the actions of a person line up with the Father’s will? Are they kind and generous with their time and money, willing to extend a helping hand to those in need, or are they selfish and unwilling to part with any of their own funds, nor willing to take on the sick or elderly? Do they take advantage of your goodness to further their own ends?

Over the years, my family has dealt with many who profess to be Christians, while simultaneously stabbing us in the back. Selfishness, greed, narcissism, self-centeredness, lust for money, was the usual driving force behind their motivations. Though their rhetoric spoke of Christianity, their attacks and lusts told the real story.

We’ve helped people get off alcohol and drugs (while paying their bills as they were in rehab), helped people rebuild their lives, and helped elderly relatives when their own family wouldn’t, only to have those same family members turn on us. All while they acted high and mighty, yet accusatory toward us. And in some cases, those we helped directly refused to even acknowledge any of it. It can be frustrating, as well as monumentally hurtful.

Found in Luke 6 is timeless wisdom from our Master: “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.”

That is how we know the true heart of a person. People may talk the talk, but do they walk the walk? Do they walk it consistently? One who professes how Christian they are, then acts like a pure fool, is not exhibiting good fruit. One filled with the Spirit of God will exhibit good fruit.

That is not to say that Christians do not sin, nor make mistakes. We do. I do. Our emotions can sometimes get the better of us. But the Holy Spirit will convict us of our sin and we will make things right, through repentance to God, and, if need be, fixing things with our brother or sister in Christ. “Never let the sun go down on your anger,” Paul told us. And if they won’t forgive you, “shake the dust off your feet.” Walking in unforgiveness, filled with hate, anger, and bitterness, is proof that one is likely unsaved. 

It has been truly said that you can’t make someone love you, or even like you. So, watch for the “ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing,” for such toxic people can have a very negative effect on you, if you let them. Don’t let anger, hatred, or bitterness creep in. Though it may be hard at first, do as Jesus instructed: Forgive and “pray for those who despitefully use you.” 

And worry not about what you have done for them, even if it is without any acknowledgement from man, for God knows the truth. “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

But that doesn’t mean you should continue to hang around with them. Cut toxic people out of your life. You don’t have to continually let people despitefully use you or steal from you. And you certainly don’t have to listen to those who run you down, even after your kindness towards them. Pray for them but don’t continue to support them. Pray and let God deal with it. Your peace of mind will be much better for it.

“Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7