" Set your mind on heavenly things, not on earthly things."
O.K. so maybe that is not an official scripture, However, it is a concept in the new Testament and I have never completely grasped what it means. So, you have any answers?
2006-11-23 14:42:25 · 30 answers · asked by Sapphire-by-the-sea 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I will not choose a best answer on this for so far, all of your answers are very good!!
Thank you very much!
2006-11-23 15:02:15 · update #1
set your mind on godly things, not on earthly things.
2006-11-23 14:47:08 · answer #1 · answered by Hannah's Grandpa 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
It similar to when it say; "Do not store up treasures on Earth where moth and rust destroy and thieves steal. Instead, store up treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves can not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your Heart will be also".
Like you, this may not be exact but that the concept in the New Testament. I think Matthew 6:19-20.
So, I guess this is easrier to understand and helps explain the scripture you question.
2006-11-23 14:54:09 · answer #2 · answered by Snaglefritz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in a way it could mean many things.
set your mind on heavenly things... God, Jesus, ways to glorify them throughout your life, ways to bring others to Heaven and save them. Set your goal to be the best you can be glorifying our Father in Heaven.
DON;T do things that are wrong or of satan. its okay to do some stuff from the earth but like don't get caught up in video games, sex, and other stuff. its sad how the world is becoming sex-obsessed and God doesn't want it to be that way. it's meant for marriage as a way of giving thanks to God in a way. he created it... he knows it is pleasing but he wants it to be holy and for a wife and husband to enjoy... not just something you do randomly with a different person every night.
it means, don't get caught up in temptation and sin, God knows the world is rough and full of it, but he wants you to try your best to steer away from it. if we all did what that scripture says, the world wouldn't b the mess it is today, but people are doing the opposite. anything good and righteous is heavenly. if you ever feel bad or guilty doing something, it probably isn't heavenly. just a thought!
e-mail me if you want to talk! God bless you!
2006-11-23 15:29:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2) - New International Version
The apostle tells the Colossians to be heavenly-minded, after the example of Christ, that they may be prepared to appear with him in glory.
I like the first two lines of Wordsworth's poem "The World Is Too Much With Us" which I think are pertinent to your question.
The world is too much with us, late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.
We spend too much time in gathering riches and honor for ourselves and too little time studying scripture and putting it to use.
s
2006-11-23 15:12:17 · answer #4 · answered by Serendipity 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it means that we should not live for the here and now. We should live our lives with our focus on eternity. And, no, it's not true that you can be so heavenly minded that you're no earthly good. You can be more useful in this life if you focus on the next.
2006-11-23 14:47:44 · answer #5 · answered by David S 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Colossians 3:2 NIV
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
It simply means that, as Christians, we should not be concerned with ONLY the things of this earth. We should not have a materialistic view, a view of "He who dies with the most toys, wins". Actually, he who dies with the most toys still dies! As such, our minds should be focused not on the things of this world, rather, on what is to come! There is a bit of a problem: our bodies are still on earth! What do we do then? We respond to things as we are directed to by God, i.e. do to others as you would have them do to you. Be Christlike, set your minds on the things above, and not on earthly things. Is that our mentality? Not always. But we have a merciful God to aid us. God bless!
2006-11-23 14:50:36 · answer #6 · answered by eefen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't be concerned with things here on earth, like saving up tons of money and wealth and having lots of material things, be concerned with what you do here on earth that will be pleasing to your heavenly Father. Material things here on earth will not matter when you get to heaven, but the things you did to help others, and spread the Word of God, things that glorified the Father will earn your reward in heaven.
2006-11-23 14:49:20 · answer #7 · answered by Chris 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Heavenly things are eternally lasting, earthly things are temporal and die eventually. Loving a country, for instance, is earthly because all governments are temporal.
2006-11-23 15:07:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
read it in context, that's always a good idea to understanding any passage.
Colossians 3:1-4
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
2006-11-23 14:52:46 · answer #9 · answered by Gray 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its a little bit like "you citizenship is in heaven" from Colossions or "you treasure should be in heaven, where your treasure is there you heart will be also" from Jesus statement in the gospels
it at least means dont be so earthly minded you r no heavenly good... don't be so wrapped up in worldly things
2006-11-23 14:48:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you speak of Matthew 6.
He says "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
He goes on about serving two masters and such, but then describes what He means about the difference between heavenly things and earthly things:
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take you thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
I hope that clears things up for you, if not, let me know and I'll try to explain further.
2006-11-23 15:00:10 · answer #11 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋