Generous eyes

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!  –Matthew 6:22-23 (NIV)
 
Jesus was not talking about whether His listeners could pass an eye test. He was talking about a way of seeing the world. I learned recently that the words translated here as “healthy” and “unhealthy” carry a connotation in the Greek language that implies “generous” and “stingy”. That understanding makes the statement in verses 22-23 much less random in a larger discussion that includes storing up treasures (vss. 19-21), chasing money (v. 24), and worrying about how daily needs will be met (vss. 25-34).
 
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  –Matthew 6:26 (NIV)
 
The larger context contains six vision references. “Look at the birds…”, “See the flowers…”. It culminates in an invitation to “Seek the kingdom…’. The ability to understand and apply such statements depends on whether we view life from a standpoint of plenty (full/healthy/generous) or scarcity (depleted/unhealthy/stingy). Jesus says it’s literally the difference between night and day.
 
See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  –Matthew 6:28b-29 (NIV)
 
The eye of scarcity says I cannot risk being frivolous with my time, my talent, my treasure, my grace, or my gratitude. Supplies are limited and I need my share. I won’t be taken advantage of. I have to hold onto as much as I can to take care of me and mine.
 
In contrast, the eye of plenty says there is a Heavenly Father Who knows what is needed: If it’s a bigger pie, He makes a bigger pie. He is often found to be extravagant in His giving. When I trust in a God like that, I’m looking for opportunities to be a channel for His blessing to flow to others.
 
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  –Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)
 
Seeking the Kingdom is not anti-work, anti-planning, or anti-stewardship. It isn’t a dreamy directive to have our head in the clouds and hope everything works out. Indeed, Jesus explicitly states that daily troubles will continually arise. Rather, it’s an acknowledgement that we have a Father Who is bigger than those troubles. He loves us and stands ready to graciously provide all we’ll ever need. ALL WE WILL EVER NEED.
 
As a result, we are freed to take a step back and manage what God has placed before us in a way that considers the needs of others. Heads up, eyes open, men. Where is God calling you to look with generous eyes today?