This evening I had a conversation with someone and this cliche came up. I have heard it many times and it always makes me think...As Christians aren't we suppose to be heavenly minded?
If we are completely heavenly minded than God is free to use us to fulfill His good plans here on earth. The problem is when we throw a spanner in the works by not being completely heavenly minded. The reason we are not producing "good" here on earth is not because we are too heavenly minded, but rather when we are too fleshly minded. When we focus our thoughts, desires, and time on heavenly things it has to produce the good fruits of God in our lives which will in turn bring God's goodness here on earth.
Google is a great tool so I sent this cliche' out to never never land.
There is an old expression that states, “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good.” Clever and catchy cliche, isn’t it? The only problem is that these words are unbiblical. The Bible says, “Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col 3:2). Contrary to popular opinion, being heavenly minded always inspires us to be more earthly good. Thus, our goal as Christians must be to set our minds on things above and faithfully serve the Lord.
http://bible.org/seriespage/heavenly-minded-and-earthly-good-1-corinthians-318-45
So many times I have used old cliches without a lot of thought. My mom always said..."Think before you speak." There's a lot of wisdom from that statement! I'm afraid to think how many other cliches I have used just because they sound catchy or sometimes even justify my actions.
I hope I can change this one around to say..."Don't be so Earthly minded that you are of no Heavenly good."
Karen
2 comments:
The scriptures do tell us to not be "overrighteous" in Ecclesiastes 7:
16 Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?
17 Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?
18 It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
The saying, "Don't be so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good", simply echoes the caution in II Corinthians 13: 1-3 that says,
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
It simply means that if you aren't applying your faith here on Earth, loving people and showing compassion, because you're too caught up in piousness, then you aren't following the example of Christ and you are accomplishing nothing truly good.
Thanks for sharing! The key is the fear of the Lord! Sadly many believers won't step out any further than the walls of their own fellowships. Our churches (Me too) have failed to do their jobs in the communities. Leaving many discouraged and walking away from their faith. My prayer is that I would be so Heavenly minded that I would be of Earthly good! Trying my best to step away from those walls!
Post a Comment