Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. You will fully recognize the by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit. A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]. Matthew 7:15-18 AMP
There’s a saying that’s been going through my head lately that says “If you’ve got the fruit, you’ve got the root.” The Bible speaks of various kinds of roots, like a root of resentment, bitterness, hatred, etc. The book of Hebrews says:
Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing, in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it. Hebrews 12:15, AMP
Jesus starts out Matthew chapter 7 by saying:
Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you. Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam of timber in your own eye? You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5, AMP
Jesus said that a bad, diseased tree cannot bear excellent fruit. I believe we have some sickness in the body of Christ. I have noticed that there are many who seem to have a “critical spirit.” They like to criticize and find fault with other Christians and I know there are those who are not doing right, teaching false doctrine, etc. and there may be a time and place to discuss those things, but I think we need to check ourselves and make sure that are motives are right and we are not falling into the trap of being a fault finder. I believe Jesus was showing a connection here between a critical spirit and bad fruit which stems from bad roots. I believe the primary reason why people become critical is because they have a “root of rejection.” They feel insecure and feel a need to compare themselves with other people and put others down in order to feel better about themselves. The book of James says it like this:
Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water. Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth. This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal). For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity). And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to Gods will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts]. James 3:12-18 AMP
Notice the difference in the fruits and what they produce. Pride (exalting one’s self) opens the door to all sorts bad fruit, like jealousy, contention, rivalry, selfish ambition, confusion, unrest, disharmony, rebellion, etc. Humility (humbling or making yourself low in your own opinion) produces peace, courteousness, considerateness, gentleness, a willingness to yield to reason, compassion, harmony, etc.
I think we probably all need an upgrade in our love walk. The Bible says we should exam ourselves. Remember, “If you’ve got the fruit, you’ve got the root.” God bless you all.
In Christ ~ Kelly Rowe
A Deeper Walk 