Good Treasure, Good Fruit
Luke 6:45 says, "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." This verse teaches us that our actions and words reflect the true condition of our hearts. It's a potent reminder that what we do and say is a window into our inner selves.
Jesus often emphasized the importance of the heart in His teachings. In Matthew 12:34-35, He said, "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil." Here, Jesus reiterates that our words and actions are direct expressions of what resides in our hearts.
Proverbs 4:23 warns us to "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." This verse underlines the importance of guarding our hearts, knowing that our life’s actions and words spring from our inner being. If our hearts are filled with love, kindness, and goodness, our actions will reflect these qualities. Conversely, if our hearts harbor bitterness, envy, or malice, these negative traits will be evident in our behavior.
James 3:11-12 adds another layer of understanding: "Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh." James is pointing out the inconsistency that would exist if our actions didn't match our inner selves. Just as a fountain can only produce one type of water, our actions can only truly reflect what is within us.
Furthermore, in Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus talks about recognizing people by their fruits: "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits." This passage reminds us that just as trees are known by their fruit, people are known by their actions. Good actions come from a good heart, and bad actions come from an evil heart.
In practical terms, this means that if we want our actions to reflect Christ, we must first ensure our hearts are aligned with His teachings. Ephesians 4:29 advises us, "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." Our speech should build others up and reflect the grace that we have received from God.
In closing, Luke 6:45 and supporting Scriptures teach us that our actions and words are reflections of our hearts. To live a life that honors God, we must cultivate a heart that treasures His goodness, kindness, and love. By doing so, our lives will naturally bear the good fruit that Jesus spoke of, revealing a heart transformed by His grace.
Fifty years ago, I committed my life to serving the Lord. I hold an associate degree in Christian Education and a bachelor’s degree in Christian Counseling. I live by 1 Corinthians 9:16, and Ephesians 3:7-8. In my retirement, I focus on studying and sharing the teachings of God’s Word with others. Besides writing this Blog, I maintain 3 Facebook pages dedicated to spreading the Word of God. Email Dean: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com
