I have to admit that sometimes my normally brown eyes turn green. They don’t really change color but sometimes the “green-eyed monster” attacks.  When I’m under attack, I can be a bit envious of someone else’s position or calling. I’m not proud to admit this flaw sin but well, I’m just being real.

In 1 Samuel we learn that Saul is king but ole Saul had outrageously green eyes. He was so jealous of (God’s anointed next king) David that it drove him mad. Seriously crazy.  Saul’s envy of David’s success led him down a disobedient, murderous, destructive path.

We can learn from Saul’s mistakes. He was so consumed with his own desires that he denied God’s plan and work. He was so consumed with making a name for himself he failed to make God’s name known. And he loved himself so much he couldn’t love God.

To be jealous of someone else’s calling or position God has placed them in is to believe that God has made a mistake is putting them there. Being jealous of others is to be ungrateful for what God has given you. Neither of these is a correct way of thinking or behaving. God is very clear in his word that we are to love others rather than envy them. Jealousy is not a character flaw, it’s a sin and sin always has consequences. Where has jealousy led to disastrous results in your life?

God makes each of us with unique gifts and talents and He places us in the position and place where he knows best. To keep our eyes the right color, they need to stay focused on God and his desires rather than looking at what others are doing. Being consumed with others distracts us from God’s work. Our passion and time need to be spent doing the tasks God has given us.  When we spend time obsessing with others, we’re wasting valuable time. There’s enough work in God’s kingdom for each of us. Thankfully, while jealousy is a sin, Jesus paid the price for all of our sins by giving his life on the cross. Confess your sin, receive forgiveness, leave the regrets behind, and rely on the Holy Spirit for strength to slay the sin that grips your life. Green eyes included.

© 2019 Robin R King

1 Samuel 18:5-9  (CSB)

David’s Success

18⁵ David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the fighting men, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well.

⁶ As the troops were coming back, when David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments. ⁷ As they danced, the women sang:

Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands.

⁸ Saul was furious and resented this song.^[b] “They credited tens of thousands to David,” he complained, “but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?” ⁹ So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward.

Saul Attempts to Kill David

¹⁰ The next day an evil spirit sent from God came powerfully on Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual, but Saul was holding a spear, ¹¹ and he threw it, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David got away from him twice.

⁶ As the troops were coming back, when David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments. ⁷ As they danced, the women sang: