Parents’ eyes light up when their little ones sing at a school or church program, “Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see. . . .” They’re proud of their children—and why not?

But who has had more opportunity to see what their eyes should not look at, or to go where their feet should not take them—the children, or the parents?

According to the Bible, the problem with our eyes began long ago, with our parents in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Eve saw the forbidden fruit, desired it, ate it, and gave some to Adam, who also ate. Seeing, desiring, and taking what is forbidden is now natural for Adam and Eve’s descendants.

Who of us doesn’t strain to see and touch what is prohibited?

The book of Proverbs says, “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” (15:3). The book of Judges tells us, “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes” (17:6, NRSV; see also 21:25). And in story after story in Judges, we read, “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (see 2:11; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1).

When we think about the children’s song “Oh, be careful, little eyes,” let’s also think about where our own eyes take us.