What does it mean that even a child is known by his deeds (Proverbs 20:11)?

Evil may for a time be hidden under many a plea or cloak. But good needs no commendation. Even a child is known by his doings; a pure or a right work is plain.

If "even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right" (v. 11), then how can his elders expect to get away with impure and unrighteous actions? But there are many who are as stupid as this. Do they forget that others have been given by God a hearing ear and a seeing eye"? (v. 12).

There is, of course, the other side to this also: the good works of some are manifest beforehand. These may actually indicate a good character, but are not sufficient proof before further knowledge; for what may at first appear good may yet have hidden motives of evil behind it. The good of another may not be seen until he is well known, and others may be surprised at how much goodness there is present when it did not first appear. Personalities are completely different, and only time will actually prove one's character. But works that are otherwise than "good" cannot be hid: it does not take too long before one may be known by his works: if they are evil, how can he hide them indefinitely?

Profession unsustained by demonstrated grace is entitled to no credence on the part of others. As Jesus, when asserting the mutual indwelling of the Father and the Son, appealed to His works as a confirmation of His words,8 so also is the witness of behaviour established as the true ground of the recognition of His people in the world. To the Jews, who claimed falsely to be Abraham's children, His resistless refutation was: 'If ye were Abraham's children ye would do the works of Abraham.' The same law still rules, and cannot be revoked. They who believe truly in the Lord Jesus Christ are known not because they say so, but because they do in measure work the works of Christ.9 A loveless 'saint' is no true child of God. He is not yet a living soul; for nature and origin declare themselves in act.1 Men are what they habitually do.

Abler pens than mine have told the story of Alexander Mackay, but if through reading it one dear boy or girl is led to see the beauty of an unselfish, useful life, it will not have been rewritten in vain. Remember he was only a schoolboy when he yielded his heart and life to the Saviour. We may not all be called to do some great work, but every life is full of opportunities; we can all do something to help or comfort others. Little things, if done from love to Christ, are precious in His sight, and may have results we never thought of or expected. "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right."

“Even a child is known by his doings.” Most of the boys referred to in the following pages began life well. They sought the Lord in their youth. And as they grew in age, and in stature, they grew in grace, and in the knowledge and love of God. And having themselves received “the blessing from the Lord,” they were used by Him as a means of great blessing to others.

Three children, let us suppose, have little gardens prettily marked out in their father's grounds. How very different they look! In this one the weeds grow rank and long, the flowers few and feeble. No traces of a trowel and rake and watering-pot! In the second all is tidy, the weeds kept well down, and the flowers, if not high-class, are healthy; while the third shows marks of much labour. Indeed, it is almost painfully tidy, but every flower is either drooping or dead. How easy it is from the state of the gardens to divine the character of the children! And if the careless, go-as-you-please style of number one is to be deplored, the feverish anxiety which led number three to continually pull up one and another of the plants to see how the roots were getting on is almost as disastrous from a practical point of view.

“Children, let no man lead you astray: he that practiseth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that practiseth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning” (Numerical Bible). A man’s practice indicates his character. Let the children of God carefully consider this, and not be swayed by mere specious words. The practice of righteousness however is not the mere practise of humanitarian kindness and moral principles of which the world can approve. If it does not manifest true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, it is not righteousness at all, for the claims of God’s righteousness are certainly paramount. His righteousness is seen in Christ, and a true believer will in his measure, display a definite resemblance in character to that of his Master. In complete contrast, the sinful practice of an unbeliever shows him to be “of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.” However refined and specious the character of his sin, however deceiving to some minds, it is yet sin, an offense against the blessed Person of the Lord Jesus.

"The wise in heart will receive commands" (v. 8), not by any means refusing such commands as though they were offensive, but when they are God's commands, they will welcome them. "But a prating fool will fall." His words oppose what is right and wise, and become his own undoing. Then "he who walks with integrity walks securely" (v. 9): his actions do not trip him up, while one who is perverse in his ways will expose his own folly: practically everyone will see through him.

Wisdom is manifested in lowly obedience (vv. 8, 9). "The wise in heart receives commandments; but the foolish of lips (the marked contrast) shall fall." Man's true elevation is in looking up to Him who deigns to guide the needy by His counsel. The foolish of lips proves that he neither knows whence wisdom comes, nor distrusts his own emptiness; and therefore shall he fall. But wisdom of heart does not stop at hearing, but receives to obey, and is blessed in his doing; and so we are told here, "he that walks in integrity walks securely; but he that perverts his ways shall be known." He may be sly, and hope to lie concealed; but He who sees all discloses the evildoer even in the dark day or night.