Colossians 3:1-2 — If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

I think it was writer Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. who first said “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.” I heard it again recently and today it set me thinking …It sounds good, doesn’t it? In a way it is, I suppose. We all know a few people who are often in church, can quote scripture inside out and backwards and yet seem always to be missing when somebody needs help.

The idea sounds good, and yet … In another way, it’s completely unbiblical. Paul told the Colossians to fix their minds on things above, and Jesus Himself said “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) In fact there’s a danger of being so earthly minded that you are no heavenly good!

It’s a matter of balance and motivation. C. S. Lewis put it into the right perspective:

This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world … all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Chapter 10:”Hope”)

It’s one of those God-man cycles that occupy my mind from time to time. We focus our minds on heaven. God calls us to service. We serve. Others see God in us. He gets the glory! Now it’s true that sometimes that service is in some kind of vocational ministry. But the service has the same value whatever we’re called too:

I don’t think God is overly concerned whether His children are carpenters, plumbers or engineers. … But He does care what kind of carpenter, plumber or engineer we may be. We don’t need any ecclesiastical position to serve the Lord.” (Neil. T. Anderson, Who I Am In Christ, Chapter 28, “I Have Been Chosen and Appointed To Bear Fruit”)

As I said, It’s possible to be so earthly minded that you are no heavenly good! Everything I do ought to be done with the advance of the kingdom in mind. Then it will be heavenly good and earthly good. To be honest, I’m not close to that ideal … but perhaps these thoughts will help me get closer!