Setting Your Mind
Colossians 3:2 (ESV)
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
If there were a “key” to the Christian life, Colossians 3:2 would be it. Imagine if every decision you made was in light of eternity.
- What would be in your cart at the store?
- How would you spend your free time today?
- Would you keep up with the Jones’s?
- Would you dive into sin because it gives you temporary happiness?
- What would your schedule look like?
- What would your checkbook look like?
I often wonder why, although we have more information available to us than any time in history, the average person sitting in an American church has such a shallow depth of Biblical knowledge that false teachers, either on tv, radio, or in a local ministry easily convince people two hang on their every word and cash in their life savings so the false teacher can purchase another jet, house, car, or whatever earthly thing they have their minds set on.
I believe primarily it is caused by a failure of obeying Colossians 3:2 which in turn causes two great deceptions.
- We are deceived into setting our priorities on the things that are on earth. This deception causes people to never consider missing a scout meeting, a ball practice or game, a favorite tv show, a birthday party, or seemingly any earthly thing, but when it comes to church or church events, it must bow to the earthly schedule. Friend, this is a GREAT DECEPTION! It is destroying our culture and it is destruction originating from within the church.
- The second deception is found within the realm of moderation. Many earthly things are not forbidden in scripture such as sports, clean entertainment, relaxing, hobbies, etc. in moderation. The problem with many is their understanding of moderation. The standard of moderation isn’t your neighbor, it is Colossians 3:2. Let me explain, I can’t say my neighbor binge-watches Netflix for 12+ hours a day, since I only do it 3 hours I’m watching in moderation. The standard summarized in this question, am I setting my mind on things that are above more than I am on earthly things? If I struggle to read my bible 15 minutes a day and watch 30 minutes of TV a day, it is not moderation. If I attend 1 event this week yet have trouble making it to church on Sunday I am not living in moderation. Christ must be preeminent in our lives if we are a born again believer. He will not sit second chair in the orchestra of our lives.
John Macarthur uses the illustration of a compass to illustrate Colossians 3:2. The compass always points north, because of that, it gives us a standard to orient ourselves to the world and not become lost. The person who does not set his mind on things that above quickly becomes disoriented and lost in this life. They are those who are spoken of in “Ephesians 4:14: so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” They are ships without rudders and are adrift waiting for their faith to be shipwrecked.
Friends, I ask you, set your minds on the things that are above. Compared to Christ, There is nothing here worthy of your devotion.