Chapter Seven: Eleven Considerations to Take the Hearts of Men off of Earthly-Mindedness
Even though these are the reasons why people focus on earthly things, someday it will be revealed to be foolishness.
Even if earthly-minded people consider themselves wise and believe that they have good reasons for what they do, and think that anyone who does not grovel in the ground like a mole with them and consider religious matters mere words and talk is foolish, I will find contentment in focusing on heavenly things. Their way will be proven to be folly. As the Holy Spirit said in Psalm 49, "Their way is folly."
In the end, the wise people of the earth who have sought after earthly things and pride themselves in their ways, will prove to be the greatest fools. This is how the Holy Ghost sees them. In Jeremiah
17:11, it says, "Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who makes a fortune unjustly. In the middle of his days his riches will desert him, and in the end, he will be a fool." Such a person praises themselves for what they presently possess, but in the end, they will be revealed as foolish.
Chapter Seven:
Eleven Considerations to Take the Mind Off of Earthly-Mindedness The main objective thus far has been to shift the focus of men and women away from the things of the earth. This preparation is essential for what follows, which is of utmost importance, our conversations in heaven. However, a person's conversation cannot be in heaven until their mind is taken off the earth, until the disease of earthly-mindedness is cured. Therefore, we must now put forward some ideas that may help redirect men's minds from the earth.
Firstly, consider this: even if you could possess all the things of the earth that your heart desires, there is still not enough good in them to undo the evil of the least sin, not even the least sinful thought.
Your mind is fixed on the earth, and you believe that you will be blessed if you have what others have. However, let me tell you that if you had but one sinful thought, there is more evil in that than there is good in all that you could acquire during your lifetime. Therefore, it would be more beneficial for you to focus on avoiding sin, getting the evil of sin removed, and mortifying your sins. This should concern you more than concentrating on the things of the earth.
That's one consideration.
A second consideration that may divert the hearts of men from the things of the earth is this: the main things that are valued in the earth have been the portion of reprobates in the past and continue to be so. They shall be the portion of multitudes whom God hates and has designated to glorify His infinite justice eternally. Should your heart and mind be fixed upon things that are the portion of reprobates? Will the portion of a reprobate satisfy you? Will it serve you? Are you satisfied with dog meat? If it will not satisfy you, then why is it that your mind is so focused on the things of the earth?
Perhaps you are poor and insignificant in the world. Your mind is focused on something small. You do not expect to have great things in the world, yet you are focused on these little things as if that were your portion and happiness, such as a small amount to furnish your house or to provide for yourself and your family. Oh, friend! Even if it were possible for you to gain control of the entire world, you would still not have any more than what has been the portion of those whom God has hated. If kingdoms and empires have been the portions of reprobates, why do you focus excessively on things that are lower and allow the strength of your heart to flow out upon such things?
The third consideration we present is that God has made man for higher things than the things of this earth. We should ask ourselves,
"For what purpose did God create human beings? Why did He send them into this world?" Among all the creatures on this earth, only humans can know God, the infinite First Being of all things. God has given them a nature capable of conversing with Him. Surely, there must be other things that God created humans for besides just having food, drink, and clothing, and living for a while to enjoy earthly creations.
Don't we often read that Jesus Christ was both God and man, took on human nature, and died for humankind? Surely, there must be some other kind of things that are the fruit of the redemption purchased by the blood of Christ, which are higher than the things of the earth. My brothers and sisters, if only you would realize that God has great, glorious, high, and wonderful thoughts about mankind. This would be a powerful way to take your hearts off the things of this earth when your hearts are focused on them. Are these the things God created humans for? Did God not have higher thoughts in creating humankind? In the Word of God, don't I find that when man was created, there was a kind of divine consultation with the Trinity, "Let us make man in our image?" God had higher thoughts of humans than of other things. If humans were created only to dig in the earth, then the thoughts of God concerning humans would be very low and mean.
Fourthly, just as God has higher thoughts concerning humans, the dignity of human nature, the rational soul of humans, is of too high a birth to have the strength of it spent on earthly things. God breathed
His soul into man. It is a kind of divine spark. The human soul is of the same nature as angels, a spirit like angels have. The thoughts of the mind, the faculties, and powers of the soul are too precious to be poured out as water upon the ground.
If a man had a machine that could turn dirt, straw, and sticks into gold, he would not use it, for the human mind is too precious to be spent on the things of this earth. The human mind is of an excellent and wide-ranging nature, capable not only of conversing with angels,
but also with the eternal God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. It is a great evil to invest the strength of such a faculty into such low, dirty, and base things as the earthly-minded do. Recognize the dignity of your nature, the excellence of your mind, and the soul of man, which is of transcendent worth. When weighed against the world, it is nothing. As Christ said, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?"
The soul of the lowest galley-slave is worth more than heaven, earth, the sun, moon, stars, and all their hosts, as well as all the silver and golden mines, and the unsearchable riches of the great and wide sea.
In fact, the soul of the most humble beggar who begs for bread at your doorstep is worth more than all of these combined. If God has placed such a heavenly spark into man's bosom and he is to use it for nothing but to be an earthworm that creeps on the ground, it is a great evil.
The fifth consideration is the uncertainty of all earthly riches. Any calamity could take away everything that one's mind is set on in the world. A little too much heat could put you into a fever, and where is your joy then? Your body will be too hot or too cold, and all your comfort in this life is gone. If you go out and are wounded by an enemy, what comfort will you get from all these things? You are in the midst of countless hazards every moment that could take away all the comforts of this world. Usually, when most people's minds are fixed on earthly things, that is when God strikes them in those very things. That's when they are closest to losing their worldly comforts, when their minds are most focused on them.
As you know, in the parable of the rich man in the Gospel, he was praising himself and said, "Soul, soul, take your ease. You have goods laid up for many years." But that very night a message came to him, saying, "You fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be?" Similarly, when Nebuchadnezzar was admiring the palace he had built for his glory, a message from
heaven came to him, and he was cast out of his royal court to live among the beasts of the field.
You may have experienced God crossing you in earthly things when your mind and heart have been most attached to them, and it may have been a mercy. It is a greater mercy to be crossed in those things than to prosper in them, for it may indicate that God intends good for your soul. Many who have been truly godly but have been preoccupied with earthly things have seen God come and cross them in a timely manner to show them the vanity of their hearts and minds. It was a happy cross for them, and it led them to see the things of Christ in a new light.
Sixthly, consider what happened to those who were preoccupied with earthly things in previous generations and had all the worldly accommodations they desired. What happened to Agrippa and Bernice, for example, with all their pomp and greatness? They have acted out their parts and have departed from this world, and all their vanity is buried with them. There is no difference between the poor and the rich when they die; they all go the same way. They lived for a little time and flourished in the things of the earth, and now they are gone, leaving a great deal of guilt behind them. Look to their example and see what became of them. Realize that your own fate will be the same before long. The wheel of life is turning, and soon you will be as low as they. Therefore, it is a powerful means to turn your heart away from the things of this earth.
Seventh, consider how short the time is that you have in this world.
That's the argument of the Apostle, because the time is short.
Therefore, let us use the world as if we used it not. Therefore, let our hearts be taken off these things. We have only a little time and a great deal of work. We have in this short winter's day of life to provide for eternity. Considering the great weight of the work that depends on us here in this world, it may be a mighty reason for us to bid adieu to all the things of this world. If we had enough time for
our work, and were sure of our time, then we might spend it on trifles.
If a man comes into the city to do some business of great weight and consequence, and has only a little time to spend on it, he does not mind anything he sees in the city, he does not mind anybody that comes by him, but goes up and down the streets minding his own business. Oh, it should be so with us, brethren. Consider the great work we have to do, and the little time we have to effect that work in.
Upon our little, short, uncertain inch of time, depends matters of more consequence than ten thousand, thousand worlds are worth, and if we miscarry in this little time of our lives, we are lost and undone forever. Better we had never been born, or had been made toads or serpents, or the vilest beasts, than unreasonable creatures.
Oh, have you so much time for spending the very spirits of your souls upon the things of this earth, can you spare so many hours?
Certainly, if God made known to you what eternity means, if the Lord caused the fear of eternity to fall upon you, you would not misspend as much time as you do. Many times, though, you complain of a lack of time for spiritual things. Oh, how much time do you spend in letting out your thoughts and affections upon the things of the earth?
More than you need!
In the eighth place, consider that a little will carry us through this world. We are here but as on a pilgrimage or a voyage. A little will serve to carry us through this world. Men will not take more on a journey than may help them. If a man who is going on a journey should get a whole bundle of sticks and lay them on his shoulder, and you ask him the reason why he is carrying that bundle, he might say that he is going on a great journey, and he does not know how many sticks he will need to help him. Now, it's true, to carry a staff in a man's hand will help him, thus Jacob was helped by his staff over Jordan, but to carry a bundle upon his shoulder will hinder him.
Let us consider that a little is enough to serve our purpose. If we have food and drink, and clothing, we should be content, as the Apostle said. In the past, many of God's servants passed through this world with very little. In fact, some found that the less they had, the more peace and comfort they found in God, making them more fit to die.
Ecolampadius, for example, was very poor when he was on his deathbed. He professed that he would not have been richer than he was because he saw how it hindered him. Having less made it easier for him to pass out of the world with more ease and quiet. Therefore, we should not set our minds on the things of this world, as we do not have as much need for them as we think.
Ninthly, consider that there is no comfort or good to be found in the things of this world any further than God will be pleased to use them.
They are merely channels to convey the blessings and goodness of God to us. Remember, man does not live on bread or meat alone.
You are mistaken to think that if you had such and such things, you would have a comfortable life. The truth is, it is God who comforts the heart, even through these things.
A notable scripture that supports this idea can be found in Psalm 62.
The Holy Ghost says, "Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them." Do not focus on them. Why? Because God has spoken twice, and it bears repeating. In verse 11, the scripture says, "God hath spoken once, twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God." If riches increase, do not set your heart on them, because all power to do any good belongs to God. It is not in riches where you will find the power to make you happy, but in God alone.
I admit that this is a spiritual meditation that may be difficult for those who are earthly-minded to understand. However, where earthly-mindedness prevails in the saints, this meditation may be of benefit. The truth is, the power to provide true comfort is not in creature comforts or in the things of this world. Even if I had a thousand times more than what I have now, I might still be
miserable and have as little comfort as those who have very little.
Therefore, let us set our affections on things above and not on the things of this earth.
Tenthly, let us understand this deeply. If we are godly, God promises to provide the things we need in this life. We should cast our cares upon God, for He cares for us. We should not worry about the things of this world, for our Heavenly Father knows what we need. He takes care of the lilies, and we are much more valuable to Him than they are. Children do not worry about providing for themselves because they know that their fathers will provide for them. A child who has a father and friends to make provision for him is much relieved by this.
However, those who are fatherless and friendless may have an excuse to worry, "I have to take care of myself because I have no one to provide for me." But the saints cannot say this, for we have a Father who will provide for us. All the earth belongs to the Lord, including our earthly father. So, why should we care so much about the things of this earth? Our care should be to do our duty to our Father and to walk as His children. We should not focus on the things of this earth.
To do so is to disavow the care of our Father for us. Can we believe that God gave His Son for us and not give us all things? Does not godliness have the promises of this life as well as of the life to come?
Oh, you unworthy child who professes an interest in such promises and hopes that God has done such things for you, and yet has your heart set on the things of this earth, as if the Lord had settled you here only and left you to shift for yourself from door to door. No, certainly, the care of God is over His people in the things of this earth as truly as it is over them in regard to spiritual and eternal things.
Some men think, or at least believe, that they trust God for their souls but cannot trust Him for their bodies. However, faith teaches us to trust God for both our bodies and our souls, for God cares for both, and both were redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. I have already told you that those who fear the Lord shall never lack anything that is good for them. These considerations can help to turn our hearts away from the things of this earth.
The final point I want to make is that all who profess religion should be dead to the world, or at least aim to be. If you are truly religious, you are dead to the world. As the Scriptures say in Colossians 3:2-3,
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians, telling them they were dead and yet alive. The Bible speaks a lot about the death of the saints. For example, in 1 Timothy, it says that women who live for pleasure are dead even while they live. Similarly, Christians are dead to the world while they live, dead in a spiritual sense. "I have been crucified with Christ," says the Apostle, "and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." We are dead with Christ, and so we should be dead to the world.
In 1 Corinthians 15:29, the phrase "baptized for the dead" is often misinterpreted to mean that converts were baptized on behalf of dead people. However, the word fur in the original text is better translated as "for dead men." The baptism of converts was a sign of their profession to live as if they were dead to the world. This is the profession of Christians - to be as dead to the world. Do not dishonour your religious profession. It is a greater evil for religious people to be earthly-minded than for anyone else. Yet, how many people are guilty of this? Martin Luther observed that when God revealed Himself to Abraham and promised to multiply his descendants, He used two similes. He said He would make
Abraham's seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand upon the seashore. Luther believed these two expressions represented two kinds of Abraham's seed. Some would be like the stars in heaven, which symbolized those who are heavenly-minded, while others would be like the sand of the sea, which referred to those who claim to be of Abraham's seed but have earthly spirits.
My beloved brethren, we must strive to cultivate hearts and minds that show us to be the true seed of Abraham, as the stars in the sky, through our heavenly-mindedness. We will come to that when we discuss how Christians should conduct themselves in heaven.
Now, someone might ask, "Can't we focus on both earthly and heavenly things?" This is a common misconception. You cannot serve two masters, God and wealth. The scripture in Colossians 3:2 makes this clear: "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." These two things are opposed to each other. If you focus on earthly things, you cannot focus on heavenly things at the same time.
But you may argue, "We need these things while we are on earth.
How can we not focus on them? When we go to heaven, then we will have the right disposition." To that, I respond that although
Christians live on earth, they are not of the earth. There is a significant difference between someone who is of the earth and someone who lives on the earth. Christ said that He was not of the earth, even though He lived on it for a time. In John 3:31, He said,
"He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way." Christians are on earth, but they are not of the earth. They are a people redeemed from the earth! Yes, we need things while we are on earth, but we must not focus on them. In Matthew 6, when Christ spoke against being anxious about what we will eat, drink, or wear, He said, "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all." We do have needs, but we have greater needs for other things. We are on earth to provide for eternity and to live to honor Christ and spread His gospel. We need nothing on earth except in relation to higher things.
Thus, do not let the argument for focusing on earthly things be an excuse for an earthly spirit.
In closing, I urge you to reflect on this matter of earthly-mindedness and provide some guidance on how to avoid it.
EXHORTATIONS
Considering what has been said, I urge you to take it seriously to heart, especially if you are a young beginner in the way of religion, lest it ends up like many who are digging veins of gold and silver
underground. While they dig in those mines for riches, the earth often falls upon them and buries them so that they never come up out of the mine again. Similarly, it can happen to many who are beginning in the way of religion and are digging in the mines of salvation for unsearchable riches that are far better than gold and silver.
So, while seeking grace and godliness, be careful not to be covered with the earth while you dig in the world. Keep a place open to heaven. Otherwise, if you dig too deep, noxious gas vapours will come up from the earth, if it doesn't fall on you first. There will be noxious gas vapours to choke you if there is no opening to let in the fresh air that comes from heaven. Those who are digging in mines are very careful to leave a place open for fresh air to come in. So, even though you may follow your calling and do the work that God has set you here for like others, be as diligent in your calling as any, but still keep a passage open to heaven that fresh gales of grace may come into your soul. If, at any time, you are in the world for just one day and have no spiritual air from heaven, take heed that a vapor is coming up that will choke you. Oh, that Christians would consider this while they are here below.
I recall reading Austin's comments on Psalm 72:19, "They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before Him, and his enemies shall lick the dust." In a witty way, he applied it to earthly-minded people by saying, "If you lick the dust, by this, you will come to be counted as one of the enemies of God." It's true that the context of the verse is different, but take heed that in this metaphorical sense, you do not lick the dust and come to be counted as an enemy of God. You who would be counted as friends and seek a reconciliation with God, do not lick the dust and always be here as moles upon the earth. Moles, though blind, are said to have their eyes open if they are on top of the ground, and then they shake and tremble. So, though the earth may close the eyes of men here for a while, certainly, there will be a day when their eyes will be opened to see how they have deceived themselves. It's worse in the time of the gospel to be an earthly-