Chapter Five: Five Things may be Wrought in an Earthly-Minded Man
blasphemers, whoremasters and thieves, but there will also be dust upon that dunghill, and scrapings from your houses cast upon the dunghill of hell from the presence of God. Therefore, do not satisfy yourselves that you do not engage in such filthy, abominable lusts as others do.
If you have impure, materialistic hearts, you may be cast upon the dunghill as well as those who have lived most wickedly. Therefore, be cautious of earthly-mindedness.
There is a great deal of evil and danger in earthly-mindedness; may the Lord keep us from it. To further convince people that there is a great deal of earthly-mindedness in them, I shall expand my thoughts on this subject by providing some evidence. As preparation,
I will begin by stating that a person can be earthly-minded, yet they may not realise it themselves. Moreover, they may perish eternally due to their earthly-mindedness, without even knowing it themselves.
Chapter 5:
Five Things May Be Wrought In A Man, and Yet Earthly-Minded 1. A person may recognize the vanity of worldly things, yet still have an earthly mind. Many believe they are not earthly-minded simply because they acknowledge that all these things are fleeting and meaningless.
2. A person may be content with their possessions but still be focused on earthly things, like Esau in Genesis 9:33. How many of us have gone as far as Esau and claimed we have enough? It's a shame for
religious people, who claim to be of Jacob's seed, to not be content with having enough while a man like Esau can.
3. People may talk about the vanity of worldly things, yet still have an earthly spirit when you speak to them.
4. A person may not use deceit or injustice to acquire wealth, yet still have an earthly mindset.
5. A person may appear to despise worldly things because of their dominant desire for something else. For example, some people who crave power may seem to disdain money. Those who desire to appear generous and those with sensual desires may seem to disregard the things of the world. However, a person may hate one thing only because it conflicts with another lust, not because they see it as a sin against God. Spendthrifts may condemn greed, but they don't truly hate it as a sin.
In Isaiah 13:17, the passage says, "I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver, and as for gold they shall not delight in it." The Medes were heathen, wicked people who had no grace in them at all, and yet the passage says that they shall not regard silver nor delight in gold. Some people think that because they find themselves above the base covetousness they see in others, they must have the work of grace in them. They do not care about silver and gold, or getting everything for themselves, and they look down on those who are of such a base, covetous way. They think their condition is good because they believe they are above that lust. But this is no different from a Mede. A heathen may disregard silver and gold, but how? It is because his spirit is upon another lust, that is the reason.
Can you say this, you who seem to scorn covetousness and hate such base sordidness as you see in some people, "The Lord has made me understand what communion with Himself in Jesus Christ means, and since that time, I thank God that my heart has been above all
these earthly things. And that's the reason that I look upon all these earthly things as vanity because the Lord has revealed to me those excellent and glorious things that are infinitely above these earthly things."
That's something, indeed. If you can be above earthliness on this ground, that's a good argument! Therefore, examine on what ground it is that your spirit is against such things, whether it is on the sight and experience of better things. If so, then it is right. But certainly, people can go far in appearing to be above earthly things in respect to the sin of covetousness and still have earthly minds. Now, I will proceed to give you arguments, besides those things to which I have hinted.
How do you value yourself and others? Is it not because others, or even yourself, have much of the things of this world? Can you truly value a poor but godly man over the richest and wicked man? Can you value yourself for having even the slightest work of grace in your heart that makes you more excellent than the greatest accumulation of your wealth? But as I have said, we have already discussed these things.
And then, where does the main source of joy and sorrow lie in people's hearts? Is it the loss of the presence of God or the loss of an estate? Is it the failure of a business venture or the commission of a sin? What brings you more joy? The profit gained from the Word of God or the gain from a financial transaction? Have you ever left a sermon, having received some truth from God and rejoiced more in that than from some bargain? These are two further proofs that we have not discussed before.
NINE PROOFS OF EARTHLY-MINDEDNESS
1. Consider this: when a person relies on earthly supports, on worldly help for the good they expect, if they can have those things, their heart seems to be uplifted and joyful. But there is
nothing else that can revive their heart, nothing else that can keep their spirit. Now, that which a person most trusts in, they have made their god. It properly belongs to God to put our trust in Him. We make God our God when we rely on Him. You may say, "I cannot trust in earthly things to bring me to God." No, but to rely on them for the comforts of this life while you are here on Earth is an indication of an earthly mindset. The truth is, the comfort of a person's life does not depend on any earthly thing that they might enjoy.
OBJECTION: You may argue, "Don't these things make our lives more comfortable?"
ANSWER: Yes, as far as God is pleased to use them for our good. But if your heart relies on them for comfort and does not look higher than them for comfort, even for outward support, then you certainly have an earthly mindset. Therefore, when you are about any business, you may use some earthly means to help you.
OBJECTION: You may argue, "God would have us to take all outward means to help us."
ANSWER: Indeed, God allows us to use all outward means to help us. But we should not put our trust in anything. If our riches increase, we should not set our hearts on them. If our friends increase, we should not set our hearts on them. We should trust in the living God. We should rely on the living God for all outward things in this world.
2. A second proof of earthly-mindedness is when people make the most provision for earthly things, both for themselves and their children. Do you think like this? "I don't know what I might need in the future and I have seen many people who lived well in their youth but later lived miserably. Therefore, I must make provision for the future." But do you reason like this for heavenly things? Don't you see many people who have made a great show of religion and then
come to nothing, dying in horror of conscience? So, let me lay up provision now against an evil time, that I may not fail in my soul matters as others have done. This is a sign that your minds are not focused on heavenly things.
God has given you children and, oh, how you toil and labor! You worry at night and as soon as you wake up in the morning, you think about what you can provide for their future and their inheritance.
Now I ask you, before God, the searcher of all hearts, have you been more concerned about providing for their souls, for their spiritual and eternal wellbeing, than providing for their earthly possessions?
Of course, it is lawful for parents to provide for their children, and those who do not are worse than unbelievers. But what is your primary concern? Are you more concerned about leaving them with a suitable inheritance than leaving them with instructions in the fear of God, an interest in Christ, and grace in their hearts? Are you reluctant to die before you can bring your estate to its fullness so that you can leave it to your children? Are you not more reluctant to die before you can see some work of grace in the heart of your children?
These would be your thoughts if you were spiritually-minded.
"Oh, if I could just see some seeds of grace sown before I die, I would rejoice abundantly," repeated Austin's mother. The great thing she desired was to live long enough to see her son converted. God granted her desire, and then she found herself willing to die. There is nothing that will make the spiritual heart of a father or mother more willing to depart from this world than to find grace in the hearts of their children. "Oh, that I may see my child left under the promise in covenant with God before I die." But those whose cares and thoughts are mostly for earthly things in providing for themselves and their children give proof that their hearts are focused on earthly things.
3. The third proof of earthly-mindedness, which is quite significant, is that it is a secret and insidious sin. Therefore, I will take my time in explaining this point.
The proof is this: a man who is content with only a slight assurance of his heavenly matters, but seeks complete certainty in his earthly matters, is a sign of an earthly mind. When you talk to men who are earthly about the matters of their souls, you might ask them, "What evidence do you have that you are beyond just a formal profession, that you are better than the stony ground we read about in Scripture?
What evidence do you have that the saving work of grace is accomplished in you? That you have crossed the gulf? That you have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Jesus Christ? That your sins are forgiven, and your soul is justified?
That you are at peace with God? What evidence do you have that peace has been made between God and your soul?"
Their response will likely be, "I hope I am converted. I trust in God's mercy. I am sure I have grace. I will be saved because God is merciful." But what evidence can they provide? They hardly know any. Many are like that because they don't understand what assurance means, and so they believe no one can be sure. We may have hope, but we can't achieve complete certainty.
A heart that is truly gracious and godly would hate for that to be true.
They would not give up their share in the blessings of assurance for a thousand worlds, even if God made them kings or queens of the earth. But you have an earthly heart, and you don't focus much on assurance for matters of your soul and eternal estate. You are willing to take chances and gamble with those matters. But when it comes to the matters of the earth, you make sure you have complete certainty.
You consult with one lawyer after another for advice. If there's anything you can do to be more certain, you will do it. If you hear that your neighbours have done something to be more certain than you, you won't rest until you have done the same. Is it the same with matters of your eternal estate?
Do you not hear of many God-fearing individuals who walk comfortably in the midst of afflictions because of their assurance of God's love? Some will be able to say, "Yes, and it's this Scripture I
rely on, and through God's mercy, He has worked upon my soul in revealing Himself to me, and such a promise I have gained much comfort from." But now, visit those on their deathbeds, and generally, all they say is that they hope in God's mercy. They cannot show the ground of their hope or the real effects upon their spirits by the Word. You have not obtained the assurance for your soul and eternal estate as others have, and yet you can go on quietly.
It concerns you, who are so busy making sure of your outward estate, to spend more thoughts and care in the matters of your soul and eternal estate than you have done before. Here's an earthly-minded person that can be content with a slight degree of sanctification and is satisfied with no assurance in the matters of the world but wants to make those things more and more certain continually.
4. Further, an earthly-minded person may be convinced of their earthliness because they are content with a little degree of sanctification, but they want more and more when it comes to worldly matters. They look at those who are the most successful in their field and want to attain the same heights. But in matters of religion, they look at the lowest Christians and are content to remain at the same level.
Take an earthly-minded person of a particular trade. If someone in their profession or calling started with as little as they did and is thriving more, they would desire to reach that level themselves, and they are troubled by their lack of wealth. That's how it is in the world.
But now, consider them in matters of God. There are people who started when you did, with as little means for their spiritual growth as you have, and yet they have thrived and excelled in the matters of God. Does this trouble you? Are you concerned about this?
Do you say, "I wish I could have the same degree of grace as that person who has a spiritual mind, is full of the joy of the Holy Spirit, and is able to depend on God in the absence of all outward comforts.
They surely enjoy much communion with God, but I am far below them." Do these thoughts bother you? It is typical for earthly-minded people to look at the lowest Christian and be satisfied that they are like them, but for worldly matters, they look at the highest and are not content until they reach that level. That's the fourth evidence.
5. A fifth proof is that earthly-minded people are very wise in worldly matters, but in spiritual matters, they are weak and simple. There are many people who are very ignorant when it comes to religion. If they do talk about saving knowledge, they speak like children, and one might wonder where their understanding lies. Now take such people to the matters of the world. Oh, how wise they are in their generation. How subtle and crafty they can be! They can see an objection and know how to respond to it. They can perceive anything that will enable them to see a profit far away. However, they cannot see things that hinder their souls. They are wise in their generation and have memories for worldly matters. They can understand and remember things, and they can meditate on them. But when it comes to meditating on a point of religion, they come to a halt. Let me ask you, does your conscience tell you the same? In worldly matters, when you walk from here to London, you can run your thoughts on business all the way. You can plan this and devise that. You can foresee this objection and that one, and you can answer each one in your mind. But let me ask you this, when you walk through the fields, try to settle on one meditation about Christ and see if you can sustain that meditation for the entire walk, whereas you can extend an earthly meditation no matter how far you travel. When you wake up in the middle of the night, your thoughts are on worldly things, and you can think and work with understanding, but how about the things of God? Oh, how barren and simple are your thoughts on them! You are hardly outdone by anyone in the things of the world, but in the matters of religion, you are surpassed, and every slight temptation overcomes you there.
6. Furthermore, you can identify earthly-mindedness by the conversation and words of people. According to 1 John 4:5, "They are
of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them." Their words are earthy. It's a bad sign when you visit a friend and fear that they might die because their breath smells so earthy. This indicates the decay of their bodies. Similarly, your hearts smell earthy, and it would be somewhat tolerable if you only talked about business during the days when your work requires it. However, even during the time that God has set apart for Himself, you often discuss the affairs of the world in your thoughts. You do it when you pray, and you do it when you hear the Word. The communication and discussions of people should reflect what they have learned from the Word, not go and talk about some earthly events.
This has caused the loss of many valuable truths. Perhaps, when you were hearing the Word, God had shed some beam of gospel light into your souls, and you lost it before you reached home, losing the impression of the truth you have heard. It's unsightly that those who come to hear the Word depart without any discourse about what they have heard. It is rare for you to be in the company of others and leave anything to refresh one another's spirits or further one another in the way of eternal life. Although God permits you to talk about your business, He would still have you to have something of eternal life before you depart.
7. Another indication of earthly-mindedness is when spiritual matters must give way to earthliness for every little business. You might sacrifice prayer time or converse in the Word less or hear the Word less if you have any business to do. When earthly things are as important as spiritual things, heaven must wait until the earth is satisfied. This is a bad sign of an earthly spirit. On the other hand, if your spirit is heavenly, the very first thing you would do when you wake up in the morning is to prepare your heart with something spiritual.
In Psalm 139:17-18, it is said, "How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am
still with Thee." That is proof of a spiritual mind, to be with God upon awakening. But now, I ask you, who are you with when you wake up? Can you say, "Lord, when I wake up, I am still with Thee. I feel inclined in my spirit to be on the matters of heaven, and when I am up, I would rather my worldly business give way than my spiritual duties."
8. When a person does not care how the church or the kingdom of Jesus Christ is doing, as long as their personal worldly matters are well, this is evidence of an earthly mind. During world events, they do not inquire about the state of the saints' privileges or the church's ark, as long as their own house is safe. It only takes the examination of your own heart to know how it has been during these trying times.
In the time of war, Eli sat trembling because of the Ark of God. He did not sit trembling because the Philistines might prevail and take his home. No, it was because of the Ark of God. That was evidence of the spirituality of Eli's mind.
Similarly, it can be a great source of comfort in these dangerous times if your conscience tells you that the great thing your heart was concerned about in these evil days was "What shall become of Thy great name?" Lord, what shall become of religion? What shall become of the gospel? Lord, these were the things that took up my heart, not so much what should become of my estate and outward accommodations and relations in this world.
Examine your heart to see whether your concern is more for the advancement of the kingdom of Jesus Christ or for the advancement of your estate. But for those who are most concerned about their outward estate and do not care much about the state of religion or the way of the kingdom of Christ, God speaks to their soul.
You are an earthly-minded person, so be careful not to fall into the great evil of earthly-mindedness, especially these words: "Whose end is destruction, who art drowned in perdition." Otherwise, in the future, this could be the thing you will cry out and curse yourself for.
"Oh, I had a base and earthly heart, and sought the things of the earth. I made my portion there, and in the meantime, the blessed
God has been forsaken. I have lost my portion in the Holy Land, for I had my portion in Egypt among the Egyptians, according to my own choice."
9. The more spiritual a truth that is revealed, the less it affects his heart. Some religious truths move him, perhaps, but they are like mere bywords to him, and he doesn't pay them much attention. The more spiritual an ordinance is, the less his spirit is moved by it. If he comes to the Word and there is some earthly, natural excellence mingled there - like natural abilities, wisdom, wit, eloquence, and learning - that will move him. It may be that some interesting story is more pleasing to him than the profound truths that are revealed in the Word, such as the joy of communion with God, the longing for Jesus Christ's coming, living by faith upon a promise, the excellence in suffering for Jesus Christ, and the mortifying of inward lusts through self-denial. These spiritual truths are given little value by an earthly-minded man.
When you tell him about the privileges of the saints, the mysteries of the gospel, or anything spiritual, it is but a notion to him. As it is with men who are on the earth, they look up to heaven and see the things of heaven only slightly. Why do the stars appear so small to us here?
It is because we are on earth. The earth seems vast to us, but the stars seem small, even though they are far bigger than the earth. If we were in heaven, the heavenly bodies would appear vast to us, and the earthly bodies would scarcely be discerned. If men's hearts were heavenly, all the things of the earth would seem small to them, but because they are earthly, the things of heaven and spiritual mysteries are very insignificant in their eyes.