Chapter Two: Earthly-Mindedness Discovered in Nine Particulars
topic, which outlines the characteristics of wicked individuals who are preoccupied with earthly things.
Firstly, it is important to distinguish who are the ones that mind earthly things. It is not all those who enjoy earthly things that can be condemned for minding them. Even Paul, in this very epistle,
Philippians 4:12, wrote that although he knew how to live in need, he also knew how to live in abundance. He knew how to make use of earthly things and he instructs that those who have taught others should be made partakers of all their goods. Paul gives this charge.
Furthermore, in that Scripture where Christ Himself labors most to take the thoughts of men off the earth and not to worry about what they should eat or drink, He still says, "Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things," Matthew 6:32. Galatians 6:6 states, "Let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches." And even if there are any objections to this, he says, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."
Therefore, it is not a sign of an evil person to have earthly things and to rightfully claim what is due to them, as Paul does here. The Galatians could not even accuse Paul of breaking his own rule which he wrote to the Philippians. Hence, we must examine what is meant by minding earthly things. When does a person mind earthly things in a sinful manner? There are several particulars to consider.
Chapter Two:
Earthly-Mindedness Discovered in Nine Particulars
The first sign of a person who is too focused on earthly things is when they consider them to be the most important things in life.
They have a high regard for earthly possessions, thinking that if only they had what others have, they would be truly happy. They see material things such as homes, furniture, and wealth as the pinnacle of happiness and fulfilment.
When someone promises themselves happiness in earthly things, they are guilty of minding earthly things. Chrysostom once spoke of a covetous man who saw more beauty in his money than in the sun that shines in the sky. Such people look upon the things of the earth as the most beautiful things, which is a sign of a disordered mind.
God never intended for earthly things to be the primary means of conveying His blessings to His people. He places no great importance on material possessions, and a person's estimation of their own worth is revealed by where they find their value.
In Genesis 27:28-39, we see the difference in the blessings given to Jacob and Esau by their father, Isaac. In Jacob's blessing, God gives him the dew of heaven and the fatness of the earth, along with an abundance of crops and wine. Esau's blessing, however, is more focused on earthly things, with the fatness of the earth being mentioned before the dew of heaven. A godly person certainly needs earthly things, but the priority of their heart is the dew of heaven first and the blessings of the earth second. Conversely, a worldly person acknowledges their need for heavenly things but desires the fatness of the earth more. This is why the thoughts of an earthlyminded person are always preoccupied with worldly objects.
Secondly, when the rich, valuable thoughts of men and women are occupied with earthly things, they are preoccupied with them in a sinful manner. You can discern what kind of hearts you have by your thoughts about anything. Thoughts are the immediate eruptions or outbursts of the heart, like the bubbles that arise from the heart directly.
A person cannot know what is in their heart as well by their words and actions as they can by their thoughts since thoughts arise directly from the heart. For instance, I can tell what the water is in a fountain better by the water that immediately bubbles up from the source than by the water that runs in the stream a mile or two away that never came from the source. That which immediately bubbles up from the source shows the nature of the fountain.
Thoughts are, so to speak, the firstborn of the heart and, therefore, the heart can be discerned by the thoughts. The Holy Ghost said in Proverbs 23:7, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." This can be applied in general, not just in particular. As a person thinks in their heart, so are they; their thoughts reveal who they are. The heart is as the mind's thoughts are. People can keep their words and actions in check out of respect. If you could know what the heart is and look into its private dwelling places, that would reveal to you what a person is really like. Many of your servants may behave themselves well in your presence or in front of others out of respect, but to truly know them, try to understand what they do when they are alone in their private places.
So, if you want to know your own hearts, don't just look at how you behave in front of others, but also what they are like in your private thoughts. That's where your heart is most revealed. By private thoughts, I don't mean every kind of idea or suggestion, because sometimes the devil may put evil thoughts into even the most holy people. But I mean thoughts that are sweet to the soul, where the soul comes to find contentment. That's when you're minding earthly things: when you find your thoughts focused on earthly things and they seem more suitable to your heart than any other. It's not when the mind is simply wandering, or through suggestions or temptations, but when you are truly yourself, alone and free. Can you say that when you're alone, "Oh, the very thoughts of God are sweet to me, I meditate on His law day and night"? Can you find sweetness in prayer, as from a honeycomb? But an unclean person will find sweetness in impure thoughts when alone. An earthly-minded
person will find sweetness in earthly thoughts, and an ambitious person will find sweetness in pride when alone. These are the most satisfying thoughts to them. They can spend hours lost in them, that's earthly-mindedness.
The third thing is this: an earthly-minded person is someone whose heart clings to the earth. As I said earlier, the word "minding" means not only to think about, but to savour the things of the earth, and their heart clings to the earth. The Psalmist, in a very different context, said that his soul clung to the dust, but that's true of many people in this case. Their very souls cling to the dust, their spirits are mixed with the earth, and so they are dross. They may have some good common gifts, some good natural abilities, and some workings of the Holy Spirit upon them, but their spirits are impure, because they are mixed with the earth. Talk to these people about the vanity of earthly things and they will listen, but when you're done, their souls still cling to the earth. Talk to them about the excellence of heavenly things, and they will listen, but when you're done, their souls still cling to the earth, like a person whose soul clings in love to someone (as it's said of Samson, his soul clung to Delilah). Say what you will against that person, or of the excellence of anyone else, yet their soul clings to that person. So it is with an earthly-minded person: no matter what you say against earthly things, or what you say in praise of heavenly things, their soul still clings to the earth, like the serpent's belly clings to the dust of the ground. That's an earthly-minded person.
Fourthly, an earthly-minded person is one whose heart is consumed by distracting concerns about earthly matters: what to eat, what to drink, what to wear, how to provide for oneself and their family, and what the future may hold. Even if they are doing well now, they worry about what will happen later. The more these earthly concerns dominate their heart, the more they can be considered earthly.
There are only two things that cause distracting worries about any business:
The first is the fear of a great disaster. If I were to fail, I would consider it an unbearable disaster. If I fail, I don't know what I will do. That is the first.
The second is uncertainty about the means of avoiding this disaster.
If I see failure as a great evil, I cannot rely on the things that are supposed to prevent it. I see them as too weak to help me. Despite these means, I may still fail, which causes distracting thoughts.
An earthly-minded person is one whose thoughts are consumed with worries about worldly things, such as what to eat, drink, wear, how to provide for themselves and their families, and what will happen in the future. They fear disappointment and see it as a great evil that could lead to their undoing. They do not have confidence in the means of provision and experience uncertainty in them. Even the promise in Scripture that God will provide for them and their families does not give them peace, as they consider it the weakest means of support.
However, if the soul were not earthly-minded, it would not be greatly concerned about the things of the world. Even if one's estate is taken away, as happened to Job, they would not be undone or lose their happiness. They would have something that would comfort them even if everything else is lost. A person who invests their entire estate abroad in a venture is very anxious because bad news could mean their undoing. But another person who has many riches, property, and a stock at home to maintain them and their family, is not as anxious. Similarly, a godly person has treasures in heaven to rely on, and therefore, is not as concerned about losing their earthly possessions.
And then the second concern is the uncertainty of means and help. A godly person knows that outward causes are uncertain, but they can rely on the promise of God: "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
They can cast their cares upon Him because He cares for them. This promise is certain, and it helps to alleviate their worries. But an
earthly-minded person's heart is filled with distracting cares because they believe that they are undone if they fail in this world and have nothing more than the creature to rely on for their provision.
Fifthly, an earthly-minded person is someone whose primary focus and life's work revolve around the things of the earth. They make it their top priority, and their strongest efforts are dedicated to these things. They are eager and greedy in their pursuit of worldly goods; their entire being is consumed by it. It is the only thing that their soul desires.
You might argue, "Other people are busy with their jobs just like these earthly-minded people." Yes, but they are busy with their work out of obedience to God. For outward things, they put aside their obedience to God. If it weren't for the fact that they were obeying
God in their work, the things that they busy themselves with in the world would not be enough to occupy their souls completely. By an "adequate object," I mean something that is sufficient to fully engage the strength of the soul.
I'll give you an example to show you what I mean by an adequate object. Imagine a little child playing a sport. This sport has as much in it as there is in the child's spirit, there is a kind of equality between the child's spirit and such a sport. A child receives enough benefit from a sport that it's worth putting all their effort into it. Now, it may be, sometimes a person will play with their child. They will play as the child does, but this sport is not an adequate object. A person will play with the child for a while, but there is not enough good in this play to fill their souls, though it is fully adequate to the desires of the child. These things are not fully adequate to the desires of a person.
They have other matters in their minds than these, and businesses of a higher nature. And so it is in those that are not earthly-minded.
Though they may be busy with worldly things, yet they use the world as if they do not fully rely on it. The things of the world are not adequate objects to their hearts. A spiritual heart reserves the chief
strength of it for higher things. They follow these things in the world, but they reserve the chief strength for a more desirable good.
If a person has friends come to them, perhaps some of an ordinary rank come first. They make ordinary provision for them, but if they have any choice things for entertaining, they reserve them for some choice friends that are coming. So a person that is not of the world, though they may be busy with earthly things, yet the choice of their heart is reserved for things of a higher nature. I remember Tertullian had a speech about Christians and how they ate and drank when they supped. "They ate and drank so as they remembered they were to pray that night before they slept." So a gracious, spiritual heart follows their outward business in the world, but remembers they are to converse with God that night before they sleep, so that they reserve the strength of their spirit for communion with God. But the other lays out all their strength as if they have nothing to do afterward. In this, an earthly and a spiritual heart are quite contrary.
The Apostle urges godly people to use the world without becoming overly attached to it. Conversely, those who are earthly-minded treat spiritual matters as if they were unimportant. Even if an earthlyminded person engages in spiritual activities, such as attending church or praying, their heart is not fully present. They go through the motions without truly committing themselves. In contrast, a spiritually-minded person regards worldly pursuits as secondary to spiritual ones. They devote their full energy to the latter. Earthlyminded individuals resemble Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, who were swallowed up by the earth, and their hearts are consumed by earthly concerns, such as contentment and providing for themselves and their families.
Furthermore, even if a person does not appear overly focused on earthly things, they are still considered earthly-minded if they pursue material goods for their own sake, rather than in service of a higher good. In 2 Corinthians 4:18, Paul speaks of how we should not focus on the temporal and earthly things that we can see, but rather seek
them in subordination to something higher. For instance, a godly person goes about their daily business like anyone else, but their ultimate goal is to serve God in their generation. Even when they engage in outward activities, their aim is to use those means to better serve God. This is the purpose that underlies everything they do.
But now on the other hand, an earthly-minded person's goal is to follow their business and focus on the work of their profession in order to gain material possessions. They want to acquire more for themselves and their children so that they can be somebody in the world. They may have enough to satisfy their desires, so they pursue their work with great intensity just to satisfy their fleshly desires.
Indeed, all the good deeds they perform are done in subordination to their pursuit of material wealth. To put it simply, a spirituallyminded person does not seek earthly possessions for their own benefit, but an earthly-minded person does. Or to be more precise, an earthly-minded person is focused on material possessions in all that they do, both in earthly and spiritual matters. In contrast, a spiritually-minded person is focused on spiritual things in all that they do, both in spiritual and earthly matters. When an earthlyminded person is engaged in earthly activities, their focus is solely on material gain and they do not consider obedience to God in their actions. On the other hand, a spiritually-minded person says, "I will pursue my calling because God has called me to do it," but an earthly-minded person thinks, "I will pursue it because I see financial gain coming from it." This mindset is focused on earthly things. Although the activities themselves may be lawful (and it is one's duty to pursue their calling), to pursue it solely for financial gain is earthly. Pursuing it because it is one's duty and the place where God has placed them is spirituality in earthly matters. An earthly-minded person is focused on material gain in earthly matters and even more so in spiritual matters. When they engage in spiritual activities, they have an earthly goal in mind, whether it is to gain the esteem of others or to cover up some wrongdoing. Perhaps they do it simply as a formality or for their own peace of mind.
In contrast, a spiritually-minded person is spiritual even in earthly matters. Someone with a spiritual mindset is more heavenly and spiritual even when engaged in the most mundane tasks, such as cutting hedges, digging ditches, pulling ropes or lines, or using an axe or hammer. They are more focused on spiritual matters than an earthly-minded person is when praying, hearing, or receiving sacraments. This is certainly true and will be proven on the Day of Judgment, when all the secrets of every heart will be revealed.
The seventh thing we may add is that an earthly-minded man is also earthly in spiritual things. Although the best of saints may have some earthly tendencies in spiritual matters, I speak of those in whom earthliness predominates. The frame of their heart in the performance of spiritual duties is earthly, and their ends are also earthly.
The eighth thing in which we find an earthly-minded man is that he faces many great difficulties in earthly matters, yet they seem insignificant to him. Though he labours hard in earthly things, he is never weary because it is his natural element. Therefore, no matter what difficulties arise, which would be too great for another man, he disregards them. Even though there is much toil and labour, he does not grow weary. Why? Because he is in his own element. Just as a fish does not tire of swimming, so an earthly-minded man does not tire of pursuing earthly things. When a man's spirit is in this state, no difficulties can hinder him in his pursuit of earthly gain. He will wake up early in the morning to attend to his affairs and not let any weather or obstacles deter him. Men will endure all sorts of hardships, storms at sea, hazards on land, sit up late, and rise early, and work tirelessly for earthly gain, but when it comes to spiritual matters, every little difficulty puts them off. Every small obstacle becomes a mountain in their way. They may complain that it is too hard to wake up early in the morning, especially in cold winters, or that it is very difficult to read and pray.
Keeping watch over one's heart is a challenging task. For an earthlyminded individual, anything that pertains to the spirit is difficult, and the obstacles discourage them. They become exhausted with spiritual matters, as we see in Malachi 1:13, where they exclaim,
"What a burden!" However, they can work tirelessly all day long in worldly affairs, just like a horse. I challenge you to try spending one
Sabbath day focusing on spiritual and heavenly thoughts, rising early in the morning, praying alone in your closet, reading, listening, meditating, and discussing good things with others. See how tiresome it will be to your heart if it is carnal.
On the other hand, a spiritual heart considers the Sabbath a joy, and for such a person, it is merely a type and precursor of the eternal rest they will experience in the kingdom of heaven. A spiritual person views the Sabbath as a day of rest, but an earthly-minded person becomes quickly fatigued by spiritual matters and gives up. In Nehemiah 4:6, we read about the challenges that Nehemiah and his team faced while working, yet they persevered because they were determined. Therefore, the willingness to complete a task depends on a person's state of mind. If someone is earthly-minded, they will complete their worldly work because they enjoy it, whereas if they undertake a spiritual work, they will abandon it halfway through.
They rarely finish any spiritual work because they lack the desire to do so. However, if someone has a spiritual heart and begins a spiritual task, they will see it through to completion.
Lastly, an earthly-minded individual is one who understands the heavenly truths revealed in the Bible through an earthly perspective based on their intellect, disposition, and temperament. I believe this is a particular emphasis in this context since the Apostle is discussing those who opposed his ministry and were adversaries to the cross of Christ. These individuals have earthly thoughts, and, as a result, it is unsurprising that they fail to appreciate the spiritual and heavenly truths that we present to them. Their minds are earthly, so they only comprehend such things from an earthly perspective.
What was the main message that the Apostle brought to the Philippians? It was the way of reconciling the world to God, making peace with God, and our justification through Jesus Christ. There is no aspect of religion more spiritual, heavenly, and divine than the doctrine of reconciliation and justification through Jesus Christ.
Even though someone with an earthly disposition may understand the necessity of pardoning sin and making peace with God, they may think of it in an earthly manner. They have worldly thoughts and beliefs about their relationship with God and obtaining forgiveness for their sins. They believe that making peace with God is similar to how two people reconcile after a fight and that obtaining forgiveness from God is something they must do. However, free justification by the grace of God in Christ is too divine, spiritual, and heavenly for an earthly-minded person to comprehend. Their understanding of God is only in a worldly, earthly way.
As the prophet Isaiah says in Isaiah 1:3, "The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib." Similarly, an earthly-minded person knows God like an ox knows its owner and a donkey knows where it gets fed. The ox knows its owner because it is fed daily, so an earthly-minded person's understanding of God is limited to the benefits they receive from God in this world. God makes their crops grow or ensures their safe travels. An earthly-minded person may reach a level of understanding where they view God as the provider of good things in this life, but a spiritual and heavenly-minded person perceives God as God. They do not simply view God as good in respect to the benefits they receive from God in this world, but they see God as God is. They see the face of God. There is a significant difference between someone who knows another person and an animal that recognizes a person.
The ox knows its owner, the man who brings it hay and provisions, but a human being knows another human being in a deeper way. A human being knows the nature of humanity, what it means to be a rational creature. Similarly, a spiritual person knows God in a deeper way than others do. They see the face of God and understand God's
nature as it truly is. The difference between the knowledge of God that a spiritual person has, someone who is pure in heart, and the knowledge of God that an earthly-minded person has, is vast. Just as the ox knows the person who leads it to rich pastures, an earthlyminded person knows God as the giver of good things. In contrast, a spiritual person knows God in the same way as one person knows another, although not in full excellency. There is a significant difference between how a spiritual heart apprehends God and how an earthly heart apprehends God.
There are many other spiritual and divine truths that an earthly mind apprehends only in an earthly way. For example, consider heaven. How does an earthly mind perceive it? They perceive that they will be freed from pain and will experience some kind of glory, but they do not know what it is. They imagine it as some grand, glorious thing where they will live in pleasure and not in pain, and therefore they view all the glory of heaven in a sensual way. A spiritual heart looks at heaven differently. They see the enjoyment of communion with God and Jesus Christ in heaven and living the life of God in heaven. This is something an earthly heart cannot understand or appreciate.
Thus far, I have revealed what an earthly-minded person is like. I urge you to examine yourselves and consider to what extent these things apply to you. In addition to these, I have other arguments to persuade men and women that there is still much earthliness in them, but we will address them later in an orderly manner.
The second point to consider is this: the great harm of being earthlyminded is that they focus on earthly things. "Is that such a big deal?" you may ask. "We cannot comprehend how bad it truly is. We believe there's a lot of wrongdoing in cursing, fornicating, drinking, and similar disgraceful sins. But to have an earthly mind? We don't believe it to be such an immense harm." Yet you will find that the Bible speaks of this most severely, and if God is willing to impress