Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (NIV)

Why does Jack Nicholson wear sunglasses inside at the Oscars? I mean, aren’t sunglasses meant to protect the eyes from the glare of the sun? There is no sun inside the building. I know from personal experience that wearing sunglasses inside actually limits your vision, so the question comes to mind: Is it because he doesn’t want to see anything? But if he doesn’t want to see anything, why go to the Oscars in the first place?

Of course, it is possible to see when you wear sunglasses inside, just not very well. If Jack wants to wear his sunglasses somewhere so that he can hardly see at all, I suggest a better place is outside in the country on a cloudy, moonless night. Lots of potential obstacles and interesting terrain to explore. Unfortunately, there wouldn’t be anyone there to see him, and of course he’d miss the Oscars.

In one sense, we are all Jack Nicholsons. We all voluntarily wear sunglasses in the dark. It is only when Jesus comes along and takes them off that our eyes begin to adjust and we can see more clearly. The things that we were limited to before, the world that we could touch and see expands and we understand that what looked good with our sunglasses on is nothing compared to what we can see with our sunglasses off!

Then we put our sunglasses back on.

Jesus came and lived and died, demonstrating a life that was lived for treasures in heaven, not for treasures on earth (Matt 6:19-21). Yet we look around at people whose vision does not extend beyond this life and this world and envy what they are storing up for themselves! God’s love has told us there is more than that. Our satisfaction is no longer achieved by money, fame, achievements and other things limited to this world. Our satisfaction comes from pleasing God and being pleased by God. We don’t need to envy because we have all we need.

Of course, that is the theory. The truth is that our flesh is still riddled with sin and envy is an integral part of our society and a deceptive part of our life here on earth, even when we do have our sunglasses off. God has given us a new perspective through Jesus Christ, but we are still learning to walk it.

Envy is antithetical to Christianity. It is important, therefore, to learn how to live without it.

Thank God the Father for allowing you to see and know and become his child through Jesus. Ask him to help you to recognise and deal with the envy in your life.

Memorise: 1 John 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Read also: Eph 4:22-24, Phil 2:3, Col 3:1-14, 1 Peter 2:1-3.

Study Questions:
1. What are some of the ways “not wearing sunglasses” can help you to love and not envy?

2. What are the treasures in heaven we can look forward to if we are faithful?