We all have heard the warning, “Don’t judge a book by its cover!” and that is good advice. We often miss things in people which at first are not apparent or even purposely hidden from view.
But there is a bigger, more important reality, namely, that whatever is inside us eventually and inevitably works itself out. For example, after Jesus calls false prophets wolves disguised as sheep, he mixes metaphors and assures us, “By their fruit you will recognize them.”
The Bible often echoes this counsel: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” “The mouth of a fool brings ruin near.” “Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense.” “The heart of fools proclaims folly.” “Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly.” “A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.” (Proverbs 4:23; 10:14; 11:12; 12:23; 13:16; 14:16).
Do you see the thread in this ancient wisdom? Knowing it is essential to a successful life of relationships and discernment: When you hear folly, it is spoken by a fool, and when you see violence, it comes from a violent heart. On the other hand, when reason and wisdom are acted and spoken, they are products of a wise and discerning heart. The one thing we can not hide is what is inside us, for inevitably it works its way into our speech and actions.
Two principles follow: first, a person’s consistent behavior and speech ARE good and fair indicators of his heart, and second, all opinions and words are not equal. Remembering these two things keeps us from blind naivete on the one hand and a judgmental spirit on the other.
As a nation we have just lived through a presidential election which surprised many. In the coming days and months we will have many opportunities to identify wisdom and folly in people’s reactions and in the new administration’s actions. We can be confident in identifying foolish people by their violence and rancor, and the wise by their reasonable words and behavior (James 3:13-18). What counts is not our political party, but what flows from inside us. It is the one thing we can not hide.
“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
Matthew 15:11