Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act…A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Matthew 7:15-17,20

 

He promised to be true to her forever…but that only lasted a few years. A person can seem trustworthy and upright on the outside while inside, they’re and empty or rotten.

 

Appearances only count when they reflect what a person does in secret. In moments of broken trust and betrayal, it’s essential to remember that only God is perfectly faithful. Because of this, God tells us to look very carefully at the fruit of people’s lives, discerning how to trust. Discernment doesn’t eliminate any chance of disappointment, but it does prevent a lot of pointless pain.

 

The Bible tells us to watch out for people, “…who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act…A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions” (Matthew 7:15-17, 20).

 

Like fruit trees, which often take years to produce their first harvest, seeing the evidence of a person’s character and choices takes time. This is one of the reasons trust grows over time. Because trust needs to be earned and established, it’s important to have accountability measures in place especially for those in authority over others.

 

Remember, you can encourage, cheer for, and give people a chance without putting them in positions of trust they aren’t prepared for. Blindly trusting, without discernment, doesn’t set you or another up for success. Instead, examine the fruit of people’s lives over time. If we’re growing in love through a relationship with Jesus, that will be evident in our lives, despite mistakes!