Knowing People

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15-20 (NKJV) emphasis mine

This tells us that we know people and who they truly are by the fruit they produce- their actions, how they do things, how they treat people, what they say. We can know people as their character is revealed in things like how they do their job, how they interact with other people, and if they are dependable. A person’s actions reveal a lot about them. Do they do their work with excellence? Are they hardworking even the boss isn’t looking? Are they faithful, doing a job on time and doing it right the first time?

For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. Romans 11:16 (NKJV)

Holy root means holy fruit. The person who consistently produces good things is good at their core, or their root. People can talk a good talk, but watch their actions. Does their talk line up with their walk? And even if someone starts off saying all the right things, they will eventually speak what is really inside them if you listen long enough. You can locate people by listening to them for a while. Words reveal the state of the heart- especially once they have let down their guard.

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. Matthew 12:33-35 (NKJV)

Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right. Proverbs 20:11 (New Living Translation, NLT)

A person’s conduct reveals who they are, whether they are a child or an adult. As trees are known by the fruit they bear or don’t bear, so are people. So, we would be wise to observe people in many situations before we commit to becoming close with them. And this is very true of people considering marriage to someone. Their actions will show us whether we should become involved with them or keep them at a distance. There are many insincere people in the world, but eventually their true colors will come through. To protect ourselves and navigate life and relationships well, we must give it time. Trees don’t produce fruit overnight- it takes time. In the same way, time will show us who people really are. We really will know them by their fruit.