MY EYES ARE NATURALLY GREEN...

They really are.
But I am not talking about those eyes, set a little crooked on either side of my nose.

Luke 12:15 (NKJV)

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

1 Corinthians 6:10 (NKJV)

nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:3 (NKJV)

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

Colossians 3:5 (NKJV)

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

1 Thessalonians 2:5 (NKJV)
For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 

1 Timothy 3:3 (NKJV)

not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

I have been reading through the New Testament lately. Anyone else start at Genesis on their reading plan and seem to lose traction as you get into the NT?  I just decided to start there this time. This theme of covetousness has been showing up over and over. The one that states "let it not even be named among you"...whew. When something stands out to me repeatedly, I figure the Lord has a point and wants me to take a look at it in my own life. So, I did and it wasn't very nice.

We have lots of opportunities to covet in our culture today.

We have reality TV shows that are anything but. Odds are you aren't going to meet your husband/wife for the first time wearing your best formal wear and being dropped off in a limo. Most of us aren't housewives in Beverly Hills, Orange County, or Atlanta, and many of those who are have a very different lifestyle than what we see on TV.
We have social media. Facebook, blogs, and Twitter are minefields for jealousy. We don't get as many likes, retweets, friends or followers as the next guy. People do not comment on my posts like they do on hers. I think my Twitter is broken because no one responds to my tweets like they do his.
These media avenues also allow us a peek into people's lives that we have not had in the past. We see their perfect family photo, the cute kids, the adoring husband, all of which may be true, yet, hopefully, we are not privy to the argument the spouses had the night before about money or church or whatever. We don't see the meltdown the mama just had with her kids. We don't see the rebellious teen who just keeps pushing his/her parents buttons.
And we shouldn't.
Same thing happens in our churches. Most people, myself included, answer that we are fine when asked how are we doing, regardless of the fact if we are or aren't. We at least want people to think we are. We brought our family, our Bible, and our tithe so we are doing just great. Many times we are, but not all the time.


In those times we aren't, in our times of discontent, we can find ourselves looking to others and thinking how easy they seem to have it. How blessed they are. How I wish my spouse esteemed me like that. How I wish my kids were like that. How I wish people would respond to me like that.
We get tunnel vision.
And our eyes turn green.

Over the last several weeks, the Lord has been having me look at my own reactions to people and situations to see if I am looking through eyes tinted green with covetousness. It has not been easy, it is still not. I am still trying to get to the bottom of the issue and get out of my tunnel vision. What I have learned is one way to break my tunnel vision is to shift my eyes. Look elsewhere. Look up.

Mark 8:25 (NKJV)

Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.

When I choose to look up, I will see everyone clearly. I will see Christ in the fullness of His love and grace, His truth and justice. I will see those around me as the flawed humans we all are. I will see my brothers and sisters in Christ as we are - striving to be more like Jesus and some days actually doing it.

Covetousness - to be aware of it, to see it for the idolatry it is, and to not let it even be named among us takes some conscious doing on our part. To recognize it, to confess and repent, and to battle the sin of it with Scripture is the road we must walk, but not alone for Christ will make each step.
 
To steal from Coach Eric Taylor (for all you FNL fans)-

Clear eyes - focused on Christ
Full heart - of the love and grace of Christ, toward myself and others
Can't lose.

You and I, we have to choose.