What does it mean to make a covenant with your eyes?

Answer

In Job 31:1, Job mentions that he had established a covenant with his eyes—a commitment not to gaze at something: “I made a covenant with my eyes / not to look lustfully at a young woman.” It is evident that Job was referring to his personal purity. While defending his behavior, Job explains that he made a conscious effort to avoid looking at young women in inappropriate ways.

Job 31 presents Job’s final defense of his integrity. In this passage, he enumerates numerous commendable actions he took to walk with integrity before the Lord. A crucial aspect of maintaining a blameless life is steering clear of lust, and a key component of resisting lust is regulating what the eyes are exposed to.

In Job 31:4, Job provides the rationale behind his decision not to indulge in sinful thoughts about women: “Does he not see my ways / and count my every step?” Job comprehended that God observes all our actions. There is no way to conceal anything from God, including our transgressions; if we are engaging in inappropriate viewing, God is aware. Job aimed to align his life accordingly.

The concept of establishing a covenant with our eyes is particularly relevant in today’s prevalent pornography culture. Similar to Job, we are called to live with the awareness that God observes all our deeds. This encompasses both our thoughts and behaviors. Whether it involves entertaining impure thoughts, casting lecherous glances, or engaging in sexual activities outside of marriage, the understanding that God sees everything we do should prompt us to strive for purity. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” «Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. », (Hebrews 4:13).

Jesus also addressed the issue of how we use our eyes: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). The Pharisees of Jesus’ time focused on living purely, including keeping the Ten Commandments and its command not to commit adultery. However, Jesus spoke not only to the command but also to the motivation behind the command—God desires purity of heart. God’s standard is higher than ours. It’s not just the letter of the Law that God cares about but the spirit in which it’s kept.

James 1:27 says that the religion God accepts as “pure and faultless” includes “keep[ing] oneself from being polluted by the world.” Part of being “unpolluted” in this world would have to involve maintaining a pure thought life.

Sexual purity is an important aspect of the Christian life. “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness” «Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. », (Romans 6:13). “Every part of yourself” includes the eyes. In many ways, our eyes function as gates to the mind, and we must be vigilant gatekeepers to avoid letting sin in. Job made a promise to himself to guard his eyes around women, and his example is worthy of emulation.