Be Careful!

Feature 1 – June 2024 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Be Careful!

Many Christian songs have exhortations and reminders for us to live holy lives as believers in Christ. One such song for children goes something like this:

Oh, be careful little eyes what you see,
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see, For the Father up above is looking down in love, So be careful little eyes what you see.

The first stanza is followed by four others: “ears what you hear,” “tongue what you say,” “hands what you do” and “feet where you go.” Over time, there have been added other slight changes to the wording that have been used, including some additional stanzas such as “Oh, be careful little heart whom you trust” and “Oh, be careful little mind what you think.”

A number of people may remember singing this song in Sunday School or at a summer Bible camp. Some may recall having drawn pictures of such things as eyes, ears and tongues on paper and displaying these to help say each word as they would sing together. Others may have learned using hand motions to go along with the words while singing the song. Whatever your personal experience, we can all say that a simple Christian children’s song such as this one has special spiritual meaning. Let us consider this together as we think about the words to this song.

Be Careful: Holy Living
The very first expression, “Oh, be careful,” is to remind us about our personal behavior as believers. We are brought to the blessed truth that every child of God has been called to be “sanctified.” This big word simply means “to be purified” or “to be holy.” We are to live our lives with such a holy character – the very character of Christ-likeness in holiness – that the unbelieving world will take notice. They note that we are no longer one of them or part of this world system, but that we have been translated into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son.

From God’s side, sanctification was completed for us at the moment of our trusting in Christ. We read: “Those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” (1 Cor. 1:2 NKJV) and “You were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (6:11). Notice the past tense “were sanctified” in the second verse. We see that God has already accomplished this sanctification for us through His Son and views our standing as holy.

However, from our side of things the question still remains as to our practical spiritual condition, which we sometimes call “our state.” Our sanctification, in a practical way, will never be completed until we are with the Lord. It is a never-ending, ongoing process during this lifetime to be more and more holy – more like our Lord. The apostle Paul said, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14).

God uses His Word to help us become more holy (Jn. 17:17). In 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 we are told, “This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.” We read further: “If anyone cleanses himself … he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:21). So we learn that there is a part that God has and then there is the part that we have when it comes to being holy. Each believer is responsible for themselves to live and be holy, thus the need to be careful.

“Eyes What You See”
The song begins with our eyes and what we see. How fitting to first consider our eyes. It has been said that the eye is the window to the soul. It is one of our five senses. The Devil uses our eyes to tempt us; Scripture speaks of the “lust of the eyes” (1 Jn. 2:16). We see in Matthew 4:8 that the Devil tempted the Lord Jesus by showing “Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.” With this, the Devil wanted to tempt the Lord by using His eyes to sin. We know the Lord did not sin, and the Lord Jesus showed that there is no sin in Him by resisting the Devil and his temptations.

So the question for us each day is, what are we looking at? Seeing things can be a blessing and also a stumbling block for the believer. When we see things that are good, we are blessed. What a blessing for Isaiah when he saw the Lord, which he recalled in Isaiah 6:1, “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up.” We can also see these blessings by faith. However when we look upon sinful things we begin to think sinfully. James 1:14 warns that each of us is tempted when we are “drawn away by [our] own desires and enticed.” This leads to sin, and then “sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.”

We can control what we see! Are we looking at things that will arouse our flesh to then want to sin? That first glance may not have been avoidable, but that second prolonged look is what gets us into trouble. Are we watching things that cause us to be angry, stir up strife or to depart from the narrow path the Lord has for us? Sad to say, with the invention of the world wide web, internet and smart phones, sinful things are more easily accessed than ever before. Are we using this technology for good or to fulfill the lust of our eyes? May we be like Job, who said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?” (Job 31:1). This upright man who feared God then asked, “Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps?” (v.4). May the Lord help us to be careful with what our eyes see!

“Ears What You Hear”
What are we listening to as we go on day by day? Some things we hear we cannot stop from hearing: an alarm going off in a building to alert us of a fire, a siren in the street indicating a police car is in the area, a teacher teaching a lesson in the school we attend, announcements on a public address system, or a family member whom we live with sharing their opinion on some subject. All of these examples are situations over which we may have little or no control of what we hear.

However, there are many other situations that we can control what we hear. Do we listen to music with uplifting lyrics or inappropriate words? Do we listen to contentious worldly people that are rebellious or to godly people that love the Lord? Do we listen to news on the radio or television that is controlled by unbelieving people trying to influence our understanding apart from God, or do we listen just to be informed, realizing that what we hear may be inaccurate? Do we listen to people who approve of immorality, abortion and the use of drugs that will harm us or do we turn off listening to these sinful messages and minimize our exposure to them?

We do not have to listen to those that support sin (consider Rom. 1:32). We do not have to listen to false teachers. For the most part we can control the music we hear and what we hear on other media by choosing wisely and considering our responsibility to live holy lives. May we consider these things, spending more time listening to the Word of God and less time with those things that pertain to this world. As Psalm 85:8 says, “I will hear what God the Lord will speak.”

“Tongue What You Say”
How do we speak? Are we using language that will edify and build up others? Are we sharing our faith with those who need to hear the gospel? Do we encourage or discourage others with our words. James 3:1-12 gives many lessons about our tongues. The tongue is a small member of our body, yet it can be used for much good or much evil. It is compared to a bridle that controls a horse, a ship’s small rudder that steers the large ship, and a little fire that kindles a raging forest fire (vv.3-6). How careful we need to be about what we say!

The believer is not to speak filthy, corrupt words or to speak evil (Eph. 4:29-30). We are not to spread malicious gossip (Ex. 23:1-2; 1 Tim. 5:13; 1 Pet. 2:1). Clearly the believer should never participate in false teaching (Ti. 1:10-11). We should not make promises that we cannot keep (Jas. 5:12). There are many other exhortations in the Scriptures that would warn us about what we say.

The Holy Scriptures also encourage us in a positive way to speak good things that will build up believers and turn sinners from their sinful pathway. We are told to speak “the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). We are encouraged, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:6). Salt not only provides flavor, but it also helps prevent corruption. Our speech should therefore have a purifying influence on others in the midst of a spiritually decaying world. May the Lord help us to use our voices for blessing to others by speaking timely, good, gentle, purposeful and spiritual words.

“Hands What You Do”
Our hands represent our activities. So a question we can ask ourselves is how are we using our hands? We have many tasks and things we can do each and every day. Are we using our hands to be a blessing to others and be used by the Lord to further His interests? Or, do we waste our days and perhaps even engage in activities that displease the Lord? These are challenging questions.

The apostle Paul and those who traveled with him used their own hands to subsidize their practical needs (1 Cor. 4:12). We are told in Acts 18:1-4 that Paul used his hands to make tents and sold these items to help finance his service for the Lord. This work with his hands did not become an excuse to avoid preaching, but it allowed him to preach even more. He made tents so he and those with him would not be a financial burden on the people whom they were trying to reach with the gospel or on believers, whom they were helping to grow spiritually. By at least partly supporting themselves, they sought to avoid accusations that they were only sharing spiritual truth to achieve personal gain (see Ti. 1:11; 1 Tim. 6:5; 2 Pet. 2:15).

We are encouraged in the Scriptures to work with our hands. We read: “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need” (Eph. 4:28). First Thessalonians 4:11-12 tells us, “Aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” In a day where many governments give handouts to those who are not working but could be, believers are to trust in the Lord and work with their hands to provide for themselves and their families.

Also, we should use our hands to further the Lord’s interests. Most of us can use a skill to be a blessing to the local group of believers we fellowship with on a weekly basis. We can help clean the meeting place, we can help provide food during break times between meetings, we can help repair and maintain various things to help the body of Christ together, and in many more ways we can use our hands as a blessing. May the Lord open our eyes to the many opportunities to serve the Lord using our hands! Dorcas, as we read in Acts 9:36-39, is a wonderful example for us in this way.

“Feet Where You Go”
The last stanza of the original song points us to our feet: where do we walk? As believers we are on a new pathway. We have left the broad road that leads to destruction. Now we are traveling on the narrow road that leads to life everlasting (see Mt. 7:13-14). This road change should impact our walk on a daily basis. Ephesians 4:1 reminds us, “Walk worthy of the calling with which [we are] called.” Later we are told, “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” (5:2). This is a high standard indeed!

In Scripture, the Christian life is described both as a “walking” and a “running” experience (consider 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Heb. 12:1-2). Either way, we are to be faithful. Our past sinful life should no longer be the standard for how we live. We can control the places we choose to walk – not walking in places that tempt us to sin or are dangerous for our spiritual wellbeing.

Where we go is a statement of our spiritual condition. Do we frequent places of amusement? Have sporting events become so important that we miss the meetings scheduled during the week for prayer and Bible study – and perhaps even miss the Lord’s Day meetings? Is our work more important than the Lord’s things and our families? Periodically, we should completely review our goings with the mirror of Scripture. We may be surprised how far we have strayed from what the Lord would have for us as believers (see Heb. 10:25).

May the Lord help us use our feet for His glory! Consider the choices of where to go and choose the “good part” (Lk. 10:42). Sometimes we have a choice of two good options. When that occurs, we should ask the Lord, “Where do You want us to be? His answer is the pathway of blessing. It is the way we can walk worthy of our calling. The Lord is faithful, and He will direct our footsteps if we depend on Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Amen!

God The Father’s Loving Care
The last part of this simple song reminds us, “Our Father up above is looking down in love.” We should never doubt the love of God for each of His children. He is the joy giver and wants us to experience His joy through obedience to His Word. This simple expression also reminds us of God’s omniscience and omnipresence. He is all-knowing and always present in the life of the believer.

In Psalm 139:7 David stated, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” He went on to consider different places he might flee to and showed that there is no place where we can go that God is not able to see us. We cannot run away or hide in the darkness. God knows and sees everything. In Hebrews 4:13 we are reminded, “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

This blessed truth of God knowing all should not scare the believer. Rather, it should encourage us to live obediently, knowing that God is our Father and He loves us. Because He loves us, He wants us to be blessed. Blessing comes to us from being obedient to His Word. As we go about our daily lives may we be mindful to watch what we look at, to filter what we hear, govern what we say, put our hands to the plow and not look back (Lk. 9:62). Let us walk in the way that pleases our Lord!

By Bill Kulkens

Jesus told a man that once he put his hand to the plow of discipleship, he must not look back, otherwise he was not fit for the kingdom of God (Lk. 9:62). Christ’s followers are not made of half-hearted stuff or dreamy sentimentality. No consideration of family or friends, though lawful in themselves, must be allowed to turn them aside from utter and complete abandonment to Him. The expression not “fit for the kingdom” does not refer to salvation but to service. It is not at all a question of entrance into the kingdom but of service in the kingdom after entering it. Our fitness for entering into the kingdom is in the person and work of the Lord Jesus. It becomes ours through faith in Him.

Christ must reign in the heart without a rival. All other loves and all other loyalties must be secondary. —William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary (adapted)