“So Heavenly Minded and No Earthly Good?
(Any underlining and/or bold print is added for emphasis).
You may have heard of the expression, “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.” (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.)
This should not be true of a Christian.
We are to be BOTH “heavenly minded” and to be “earthly good.”
Let’s examine some scriptures, shall we?
First, let us look at the thought of being “heavenly minded.”
We need to remind ourselves that positionally, we are seated in heavenly places in Christ, as we read in Ephesians 2:4-7 – “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
We have been given a new nature. We are a new creation, and are now able to look at life from God’s perspective – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
We are not to be conformed to this world, but, transformed by the renewing of our mind, as Paul exhorts us – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Remember, we are citizens of heaven – “For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 3:20)
Getting to know God is what helps us become heavenly minded and it also helps us to learn what his will for us is.
The Lord Jesus himself tells us that getting to know God is linked with eternal life – “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)
Here is another reference to seeking knowledge of our Lord, as we are to “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)
“Since ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection (i.e., mind) on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3)
We are to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
The things of God come first over the things of this world. We do not neglect our responsibilities here on earth, but, we place God above ourselves. In other words, our purpose in life is to please God and not ourselves. Our life is not our own anymore; as believers in Christ, we are to live unto Him.
“Being made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:18)
“…being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22)
And so, being made free from sin and from serving our own pleasures and lusts, we have become servants to God, servants of righteousness.
Getting back to being heavenly minded –
David said, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4) His desire was to know the Lord by dwelling in his presence just as we do today, by reading and studying the Word of God.
We don’t need to go to Bible School or Seminary to know God. We have the Word of God and the Spirit of God.
“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (1 John 2:27)
We have received the anointing by the Spirit. He helps us understand the truth of God’s Word.
In the church, there are preachers and teachers that are gifted. They help explain truths – some through preaching and Bible study, and some through written ministry – laid out for us in the Bible through the Holy Spirit, who indwells every believer.
Think of Peter and John, who were uneducated and ignorant men – “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) Men marveled at them because it was evident that they had been with Jesus; they had been in his presence.
Martha’s sister Mary also comes to mind – “And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.” (Luke 10:39)
The Psalmist said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)
The effect of hiding scripture in our heart is so that we would not sin against God; it is a safeguard.
This reminds us of the verse – “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10) Here is a scripture reminding us that when we feel like we are going to sin, we run to God, crying out to Him to help us and keep us from sinning. This is certainly a verse we want to “hide in our heart.”
Remember when our Lord was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and was forty days tempted of the devil. Each time the Lord answered him, “It is written…” The Lord Jesus is our great Example to follow, and so it behooves us to know the scriptures which will help us refrain from sinning.
Here is a promise – “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
And so we see how we are to be “heavenly minded.”
In “So Heavenly Minded and No Earthly Good? (Part 2),” we will look at being “earthly good.”