The Eye That Compares

The owner in Jesus' parable asked the grumbling worker, “Or is your eye evil because I am good?” (Matthew 20:15). The worker's eyes were not sick. Jesus was describing the way he was looking at someone else's blessing.

A jealous look. In the Bible, an evil eye means a jealous, grudging look. It is the look that sees a friend get something good and feels angry instead of glad. The worker had his own denarius in his hand, but all he could see was the denarius in someone else's hand.

From the heart. Jesus taught that evil things come out of a person's heart, and an evil eye is one of the things He named (Mark 7:21-22). The problem is not really our eyes. It is what our hearts want.

A king and a song. King Saul is a sad example. After David beat Goliath, women came out of the towns of Israel singing and dancing to meet the king. Their song said that Saul had killed thousands, but David ten thousands (1 Samuel 18:6-7).

Saul eyed David. Saul was very angry when he heard the song. From that day on, he kept a jealous eye on David (1 Samuel 18:8-9). David had done nothing wrong. He had fought for Saul and for all of Israel.

Where it led. Saul's jealous eye did not stay a small feeling. It grew into fear, because the Lord was with David (1 Samuel 18:12). Later it grew into anger so strong that Saul tried to hurt David.

Comparing steals joy. Saul was the king of all Israel. Yet one song about someone else made all his own good gifts feel like nothing. Comparing does that to every heart. It takes our eyes off what God has given us.

Is it fair? The grumblers in the vineyard asked whether the owner was fair. Saul complained that the women gave David more praise than they gave him (1 Samuel 18:8). Our hearts often call it unfair when the real problem is jealousy.

We cannot fix it alone. Trying hard not to feel jealous does not change a heart. David later prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). We need God to do that for us.

Jesus died for jealous hearts. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus died for our jealous thoughts too, and He rose again. He forgives us and gives us new hearts.

What to do. When you feel jealous, tell God honestly. Ask Him to forgive you, and ask Him to help you see how good He has been to you.

After Jesus rose from the dead, He walked with Peter by the sea. Peter turned around and saw John following them (John 21:20). Then Peter asked a question many of us ask.

What about him? Peter said, “But Lord, what about this man?” (John 21:21). Peter wanted to know what would happen to John. He was comparing his own path with his friend's.

Jesus' answer. Jesus said, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me” (John 21:22). Jesus had a plan for John and a plan for Peter. Peter's job was to follow.

Eyes on Jesus. The cure for a comparing eye is not to stare harder at others. It is to look at Jesus. When we follow Him closely, we stop needing to check what everyone else has.

Paul in prison. Paul once sat in prison while other preachers spoke about Jesus. Some of them preached out of envy, hoping to make Paul's troubles worse. Paul said that whatever their reasons, Christ was being preached, and he was glad about it (Philippians 1:15-18).

Glad for others. Paul could have been jealous. Instead he rejoiced, because the good news about Jesus was spreading. His eyes were on Jesus, not on himself.

Nobody gave God first. Paul also wrote, “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” (Romans 11:35). No one has ever done God a favor that He had to pay back. Everything we have is a gift from Him.

Counting gifts. When we remember that everything is a gift, comparing loses its power. Paul wrote, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Count God's gifts to you instead of counting other people's.

The greatest gift. God's best gift is the same for everyone who trusts Jesus: forgiveness, a place in His family and life with Him forever. Jesus died for our sins and rose again so that we could have it.

A new way to see. God promises, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). Little by little, He teaches His people to be glad when others are blessed.

What to do. This week, when someone else gets something good, thank God out loud for His goodness to them. Then thank Him for one gift He has given you.