Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Summary: Understanding Paul’s thought about setting our minds on “things above” requires that we first understand what he means by “above.”
If this sounds like a repetition of the last verse, it is … kinda. Paul repeats his thought, but instead of saying, “set your hearts on things above,” here he says, “set your minds on things above.”
There is a difference!
When we set our hearts on something or someone, we are navigating by how we feel towards that person or thing. In a way, saying “set your hearts on things above” is similar to saying something like “Aim your love above!”
In this passage, Paul adds a twist to his words. Instead of setting our hearts on things above, he wants us to set our minds on things above.
So what does that mean?
If our hearts are where we feel about things, our minds are where we think about things.
Now, each of us is a little bit different. Some feel more than they think, and others think more than they feel. Either way, Paul wants us to focus on the things of God.
How do we do that?
Well, Paul says, “Set your minds on things above …”
Of course, that leads to the question, “Where is ‘above’?”
When we talk about heavenly things, we often point to the sky. We say things like God is “up there” when we talk about heaven. We do this because we live in a three-dimensional world, and we think in terms of left or right and up or down.
Heaven, of course, is not far away. Instead, it is near (Matthew 4:17, 10:7). Jesus never explains what “near” means except that we know that heaven is spiritual because God is spirit (John 4:24). We also know that the Holy Spirit is spirit because … well, because he is not the Holy Thing.
Since the Holy Spirit and the Father are one (1 Thessalonians 4:8), and God is in heaven (Joshua 2:11), it makes sense that if we receive the Holy Spirit from God (John 15:26), heaven is not far behind.
So, “above” does not mean “overhead” in a physical sense. Instead, it means above, as God is above us in authority and perfection (Matthew 5:48).
So, what kind of heavenly things can we set our minds on?
Philippians 4:8 comes to mind:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Application: Always focus our minds on the things of God.
Food for Thought: What happens to thoughts of “things above” when we allow our minds to dwell on “earthly things?”
The problem with “earthly things” is that they pass away. They offer no hope or, worse (to me), false hope. Its like reaching out for something that is not there or always seemingly just out of reach. Dwelling on earthly things may lead one to believe that there is no hope or that hope is elusive.
John 3:12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
I like your reply and verses CH. Thank you.
Thank you, Chris.
Your quote from 1 John 2 contains a terrifying line:
“If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
Since God is love (1 John 4:8) how can we have God’s Spirit in us if we do not have the love of the Father in us?
Great CH!! Thank You!
What happens to thoughts of “things above” when we allow our minds to dwell on “earthly things?”
We are spiritual beings, born in, and confined to physical bodies for a time which is predetermined by God. His purpose is multifaceted, but we do know, each has been given an opportunity to choose where we will spend eternity, as we receive or reject His promise of rewards for those who choose life through Christ. We can only choose one path.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24
Those who choose to reject the eternal things from above “promises not seen“ are choosing to seek earthly things which are in the process of decay as they return to dust.
“The human existence apart from God is a lonely life in rebellion, filled with distractions which take our hearts and minds away from the reality of exactly who, what we are, and where we are going.”
We must take care of the things given to us. Change the oil in our cars, wash our dirty cloths, clean our homes, mow our lawns, but these things do not determine who we are. Our daily, moment by moment decisions, life choices are a demonstration of our heart choices and tell God as well as this world around us, the path we have chosen to follow.
One day a person will come up to you and say, “what makes you different”? You can ask them “what do you mean” and answer their response.
Thanks, Ron!
I appreciate the reminder that “no one can serve two masters.” So true! We may not call what we set our minds on a “master,” but we are “mastered” by what we set our minds on.