Job 31:1 
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.” (NIV)

“I made a solemn pact with myself never to undress a girl with my eyes.” (The Message)

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That’s the problem with the Bible. It’s not practical at all. 

(Ahem.)

I was in what this Bible verse might consider a target-rich environment some years ago. It was sunny and hot. Many of the people gathered in that entertainment venue were dressed to enhance their tans.

Yeah, let’s call it that. 

I noticed that around the necks of many of those rather healthy young women were crosses and other religious insignia. I’m pleased they sought to honor Jesus in that way. Maybe they would have honored him better with clothing that provided a bit more coverage.

It dawned on me that this was an invitation to join Job in his statement here, particularly as paraphrased in The Message. And beyond that, it was a reminder to pray for these young women and those with them. I discovered that it’s easier to join Job in living out this verse through prayer rather than trying to pretend people are not nearly naked all around me. 

When you look at someone’s eyes, you tend to see more than just the color. Eyes tell stories words cannot. 

A good friend of mine and I were at a local restaurant a few months ago. The young woman waiting on us had the most striking blue-gray eyes you have ever seen. I’m listening to The Odyssey in my car these days, reminding myself of the breadth and depth of the story I last read in high school. You may have heard there’s a new movie about The Odyssey. You may not have heard there’s another new movie about The Odyssey coming soon. 

It’s interesting, isn’t it, how so many people want to tell other people’s stories their way. 

Homer describes the goddess Athena as having blue-gray eyes. My friend and I agreed that this young woman at the restaurant had goddess-level eyes. The three of us embarked on a conversation about blue-gray eyes of various hues. Our son has blue-gray eyes. One of our granddaughters has blue-gray eyes. My friend’s son has blue-gray eyes. 

Focusing on her eyes kept our focus away from what should not have been the focus. 

Her eyes told a story of some level of sadness. We did not inquire. She did not offer. I’m praying for her again, even now, as I remember that thousand-yard stare as she looked across the river through the grove of trees on the other side. 

Here’s an invitation to join in noticing eyes and praying for beautiful young women and handsome young men and whoever else happens to vie for your attention. Seek God’s highest and best for those who long to be known and loved. Ask God to reveal his perfect love to them in a way that draws their hearts to him now and forever. 

This kind of looking and this kind of praying will change how you view everyone you encounter. It will help you do what Job said he did. Make a covenant with your eyes to look for opportunities for how to pray and how to serve. Go back to chapter 29. You see there how many ways Job chose to serve people. When he saw people, he didn’t see attractive flesh. He saw hungry hearts, and that made all the difference. 

What will you see today? 

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I will listen for the stories that eyes tell without words that I can hear, but with communication I can clearly see and turn into a prayer, seeking God’s highest and best for whatever the person is experiencing. 

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Our Father, make me ever better at seeing others the way you see them. Teach me to pray for those who need to know your deep and abiding love. Empower me to give the gift of positive, focused attention that sees others the way you do, and not as entertainment or enticement. Amen.