New: 29 January 2025
What it means to be
Heavenly-minded
Colossians 3
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:1-2
Question
What does it mean to be heavenly-minded?
Context
Paul wrote to the Colossians to 'keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God,' and to 'set your mind on the things above' (Colossians 3:1, 2). What did the apostle mean by with these instructions? What are the 'things above' and how would such a lifestyle of being heavenly-minded apply to believers on earth? The context makes things clear. To properly study any part of a letter is to do so in context. The worst of mistakes happen when we take things out of context. To read and study the Bible in context simply means to understand the part within the whole. Paul didn't write individual verses but whole letters. Taking verses out of context can actually lead to the opposite meaning of the intended meaning of the author.
Answer
There is a simple rule in biblical interpretation (which applies to all literature), especially when it comes to reading in context: 'when you see a "therefore," look what it's there for.' It may sound funny at first, but it is of vital importance. These verses under discussion (Colossians 3:1-4) cannot stand alone if we want to understand them accurately and properly; its meaning cannot be understood unless we first consider what Paul wrote before and then after these words. Context means to read and understand the part within the whole. A letter must be read as a whole and the parts seen within that framework. The 'therefore' (3:1) relates to the previous words of Paul (chs. 1—2); the next 'therefore' (3:5) relates what follows (3:5—4:1) to what preceded (3:1-4). These four verses reveal a stark contrast of heavenly and earthly things, notably verse 2: 'the things above' vs 'the things that are on earth'. Our hearts should seek and our minds should be set on heavenly, not earthly, things (cf., Matthew 6:19-21, with the same contrast of heavenly vs. earthly treasures).
Paul wrote about the hope stored in heaven for the believers, which is the Gospel, the word of truth (1:5). He wrote about the reconciliation and peace in Christ of the earthly and heavenly realms through His blood shed on the cross (1:20). And he wrote about the Gospel proclaimed 'under heaven,' i.e., on earth (1:23). Paul goes on to contrast the true knowledge in Christ (2:2) with human philosophy and 'empty deception,' which are in accordance to the 'tradition of men' (i.e., human, earthly) and 'the elementary principles of the world (i.e., earthly, sinful) and not according to Christ (2:8), who is the expression and revelation of God in person (v 9). The mystery of God is Christ Himself (2:2; 4:3), and Christ in us (1:27), believers having to be rooted and built up in Him (2:6-7; cf., 1:28-29). In Christ is 'all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge' (2:3); He is the fullness of Deity (2:9) and the guard against delusion and deception (2:4, 8). Christ is Head over all things (1:18; 2:10, 19). Substance is in Christ, not in human commandments which are but a shadow of the real divine substance (2:17). We are raised up in Christ (2:12; cf., 1:22; 2:13) who is our life and resurrection (3:1, 4). The focus is on Christ. The contrast between divine/heavenly and human/earthly matters is obvious.
This becomes even more obvious by what follows the second 'therefore' of Colossians 3. Paul contrasts the works of 'the members of your earthly body' (3:5, emphasis added) with the divine attributes listed thereafter (3:12ff). Note how Paul relates being heavenly-minded to life on earth. It's about a godly lifestyle on earth based on our focus on God in heaven. Immorality, impurity, greed (which is idolatry), anger, abusive speech and lies etc. (3:5, 8-9) are part of the sinful, earthly realm. Compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and above all, love, are divine, heavenly dimensions, yet such are to be outlived on earth in our earthly bodies (3:12-14). Love, as the bond of perfection, is the crowing attribute of all others. Further, Christ's peace is to rule our hearts and His Word is to dwell in us richly; His teaching is to live according to God's will and for His glory (3:15-17).* Such a lifestyle will result in healthy marriages, strong families and good relationships at work (3:18—4:1), a solid basis for a fulfilled life and healthy society. A life hidden with Christ in God means being dead to sinful things (3:3, 5; 2:13) and raised to new life (3:1) in order to be 'holy and blameless and beyond reproach' (1:22). The believers were saved from the domain of darkness into His glorious Kingdom (1:13-14), and they should reflect the King by doing His will and living pleasing to Him (1:9-12). Jesus not only saves us from the consequences of sin, He also saved us to live a life pleasing to God (cf., Titus 2:11-14).
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*Note how the 'peace of God' (3:15) and the 'Word of Christ' (3:16) stand in immediate context. There is no peace apart from the truth of His word. Humility (3:12) and love (3:14) based on God's Word keep us in unity, harmony and within His will to glorify His Name (3:17).
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Colossians 3:12-14
Conclusion
Therefore, we conclude, that to seek and set your mind on 'the things above' is to understand God, true knowledge revealed in Christ and written in His Word, and for believers to represent the One above (God) in our lifestyle on earth expressing divine attributes that reflect God's divine nature.
The wider biblical context affirms this conclusion. Paul had written similar things in Ephesians, contrasting the sinful old self and new self in Christ (4:17-32) and the sinful past with a life 'saved by grace through faith' for God's purpose (2:1-10). The Roman believers were exhorted to live in 'newness of life' (6:4) according to the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ (8:1ff), and with the ultimate aim and purpose of becoming like Christ (8:29). We are not to be like other Christians, but be like Christ—He is our divine, heavenly standard. Achieving this aim requires being 'heavenly-minded' in that we set our mind on the things of the Spirit, and not on the things of the flesh (8:6-8) and pursue a renewing of our minds according to the word and will of God (12:2; cf., Eph 4:23). The carnal mind is opposed to God; the spiritual mind is in line with God. Paul exhorted the Corinthian believers to live by 'the mind of Christ' (1 Cor 2:16) which is able to discern spiritual from carnal things and live according to God's will based on God's Word (2:1-15). Being heavenly-minded is having a mind set on God and His will based on His word.
In his letter to the Galatian believers, Paul contrasted the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit (5:13-26) in the context of living responsibly in the freedom Christ gives (5:1, 13). To live freely is to live according to God's will and ways—the fruit will show it. John made clear that those who claim to abide in Christ are 'to walk in the same manner as He [Christ] walked' (1 John 2:6). The contrast between the 'things in the world'—its lust and pride—and the Father and His will for us makes a clear distinction between what is temporal (earthly) and eternal (heavenly), between what fades away and what will remain 'forever' (2:15-17). Doing the will of God and thus living pleasing in His sight has eternal value; living is sin has eternal consequences (cf., Matthew 7:15-21). We are to abide in Christ, figuratively speaking, the True Vine, and bear fruit as 'branches,' true disciples living as sons to please and glorify the Father and the Saviour who chose us (see John 15:1-16).
Sometimes people say that Christians are 'too heavenly-minded to be any earthly good.' The truth of the matter is that we have to be heavenly-minded in order to be earthly good. As we seek divinity in terms of divine attributes, we can express these through a life in Christ on earth by the power of God's Spirit in us. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) will manifest itself in and through us. Godly, spiritual leaders will help you to live a life pleasing to God on earth, not make you preoccupied with other-worldy things at the expense of a spiritual life on earth reflecting God's nature and glorifying His Name. Heavenly-mindedness is living a good Christian life on earth.