Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”
What does it mean to set your mind on things above? It means to focus your thoughts and energy on things that are eternal and of spiritual value such as God, His Word, His Kingdom, prayer, worship, etc. It means becoming more focused on the unseen world of faith rather than getting caught up in the materialistic pursuits of this world.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
This verse encourages us to think about the good things that are in line with God’s character and values. We are to have a heavenly mindset, focused more on eternal life than earthly things.
So, how do we set our mind on things above? There are many ways:
> Read the Bible
The Bible contains God’s Word, and it can give us a clear view of eternity. It will show us the importance of focusing on heavenly realities rather than earthly ones.
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.”
This means that the Bible will light our way to the things that are above. It will guide us as we walk through this life. When we search for and discern God’s word, we are setting our minds on things above.
Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”
When we read and meditate on the Bible, we are setting our minds on things above.
> Prayer
Prayer is a powerful way to keep our eyes focused on things that are above. In prayer, we can cast all of our cares and worries onto God (1 Peter 5:7). We can thank Him for His goodness and ask Him for guidance as we strive to walk in His will. Prayer is a great way to set our minds on things that are above.We can also pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Interceding on their behalf is a great way to take our focus off of the things of this world and set it on heavenly matters.
Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
When we pray, we are communicating with God Himself. We are engaging with the one who is above all things.
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
When we pray with thanksgiving, we experience the heavenly peace of God. This is the peace that surpasses all understanding.
> Cultivate a heart of gratitude
We can show our thankfulness to God by being grateful and praising Him in all circumstances. When we focus on being thankful for the blessings that He has given us, we are setting our minds on things above.
Psalms 34:1 “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”
Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
This means that everything we do should be done with an attitude of thankfulness and praise. We should be grateful for the blessings that God has bestowed upon us, even when it doesn’t seem like much.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
It is God’s will for us to give Him thanks and praise even during tough times.
> Serve others
It’s easy to be self-centred and only focused on what we want. But when we serve others, we are showing love and compassion to those around us, just as Jesus did. We are taking the focus off of ourselves and placing it squarely on others.
Matthew 25:40 (Jesus said) “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
When we serve others, we are serving God Himself. This is an absolutely staggering truth. Even when we do the smallest things for others, we are doing those things for Jesus.
Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
We should serve others with a joyful heart, knowing that we are serving Jesus Himself. When we serve others and put their needs before our own, we are setting our minds on things above.
> Fellowship with other Christians
It’s easy to become isolated and neglect to spend time with other Christians. But when we fellowship with other believers, it helps keep us focused on things that are above.
Hebrews 10:24-2 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
We should be encouraging one another and meeting together for worship and fellowship. This helps us stay focused on God’s will for our lives and reminds us of what matters most in this life- glorifying Him! When we make it a priority to spend time with other believers, we are setting our minds on things above. The Bible calls us to set our minds on things above and to focus on Jesus in all that we do. We can do this by spending time in prayer, cultivating a heart of gratitude, serving others, and fellowshipping with other Christians. When we set our mind on heavenly matters
> Give to others
When we give to those in need we are setting our minds on things above.
Matthew 6:21 (Jesus said) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
What this means is that whatever we invest our resources into is what will ultimately matter most to us. If we invest our resources into earthly matters, that is what will be most important to us. But if we invest our resources into heavenly matters, that is what will be the most important to us.
2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
When we give to those in need with a joyful heart, we are setting our minds on things above. When we give to those in need, we are demonstrating God’s love and care for them. It is not enough to just talk about it, but rather we must act on our faith and serve those who are less fortunate than us. Giving can come in many forms such as providing financial aid, donating goods or services, volunteering at a local charity, or simply showing kindness to someone in need. By giving to others, we are setting our minds on things above and helping those who may not have access to the same resources and opportunities that we do.
> Fight temptation
We will all face temptation in this life. But if we set our minds on things above, we are more likely to resist temptation and stand strong in our faith.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
We should focus our thoughts on those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. This helps us to resist temptation and do the things that please the Lord. We all have moments when we feel tempted to do something we know is wrong. But when we set our minds on things above, we can turn away from temptation and trust in the Lord. The Bible says that God always provides a way out of temptation.
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
God does not want us to succumb to temptation, but rather He wants us to resist it. So, if we set our minds on things above, we can have faith that God will help us through temptation and provide an escape route for us.
Perhaps you could write this verse on a card or label and put it somewhere prominent in your home or office or car. It is a good reminder to have as we face the challenges and distractions of life which come our way.
Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”