You will have seen them on your travels in the many markets around the world. The charm is called ‘Nazar’ and more often than not it is a blue glass jewellery piece to ward off the ‘evil eye’ that comes from someone who is wishing bad-luck on you. If you have ever been to Turkey you will definitely have seen these amulets as they are everywhere! Even on their budget aeroplanes a Nazar was placed, though it didn’t help them as they went bust in 2007.
It dates back to at least 6th century BC as drinking vessels have been found with Nazar engraved on them. But even today especially in some Asian and African cultures the strong belief that your soul can be damaged or even lost means that these charms are placed on people and their animals to ward off the evil eye.
The Greek Philosopher, Plutarch, who was born only 15 years after Jesus was the leading voice regarding the power of the evil eye so potent to even cause the death of children and small animals.
Did Jesus know of these traditional practices? They were certainly prevalent in the Jewish culture. In the Midrash Sarah casts an evil eye on Hagar causing her to miscarry her pregnancy. In the Talmud the descendants of Joseph are immune from the evil eye.
Here are the verses today …
“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 v 22-23)
It cannot be lifted out of the verses before where Jesus speaks about our treasure in heaven. Nor can we ignore the next verse which is about money. Simply put, Jesus is saying you will only be able to store up treasures in heaven and master money if your focus in life is good.
When our focus in this life is geared towards focusing on God and true value then our whole lives will be illuminated. But if we are chasing after things in this world that will never last, if our eyes are pinned on money, possessions and relationships then even the shiniest things that are on offer in the shop-windows of life are full of darkness.
Don’t wear Nazar’s or any other charms to ward off darkness from other people’s evil-eye instead makes sure your desires, your ambition, your gaze is not the evil-eye that others may fear or even entrap you into selling your soul for. Many have fallen because the evil-eye masquerades as the look of love. Stay healthy. Stay focused on the Kingdom of God not what this earth can offer.
Missions Paul 