“There is no good tree that gives bad fruits or a bad tree that gives good fruit… trees are known for the fruits that they give…” Luke 6:43-44. People, like fruits, could produce good or bad fruits.
In my 47 years of living in this falling world, I have come to a undeniable conclusion — people, like plants, either produce good or bad fruits… by this I mean good or bad behaviors in their essence also known as their personality.
I remember my old friend and mentor Kurt teaching me how to identify the essence of a person in the many walks we had while I was a faculty member at IUP. Is there consistency of behavior? Under stress, how do they behave?
“By their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:15. An person with an inherent evil personality won’t ever offer good deeds without expecting receiving something in return. I’ve come to realize that Kurt was correct and a very wise Christian man…
As we learn from Psalm 12:2, “Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.” Our role is to identify these neighbors and plan accordingly for a strategy to either neutralize them or perhaps flee from them.
Be aware of the many wolves that will come near you. And never forget the teachings of disciple Matthew, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16.
Be always on the alert. Look at the behaviors of other people to identify who is a friend and who is a foe. Be aware of the evil nature of others. !!! “Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” Luke 10:3.
Just a thought…