The Doorpost: What to set our minds upon (Colossians 3:1-4)
By Ray King · Nov 05, 2013
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 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. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4
Last week we looked at Colossians 2, where Paul says that our attempts to use rules to achieve righteousness in ourselves or to enforce it in others are actually of the world. Immediately after saying this, he tells what we must do to keep from being worldly. He says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Worldliness is determined by where our minds are set.
What does this mean? Should we kind of “sleepwalk” through life, not caring what happens at work or who wins a ball game? It is important that we continue reading what he says.
In verse 5 he tells us to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature. Then he tells what some of those things are: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, telling lies. These things show that our mind is set on the world.
Then, in verse 12 and the verses following, he tells the things we will clothe ourselves with if our mind is set on things above: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, love, the peace of Christ, thankfulness.
Two of us can drive the same kind of car, yet one is greedy and one is not. Or we can say the same thing about someone else, yet one is speaking the truth in love and the other is slandering. One person can be spiritual and the other worldly while owning the same kinds of things, saying the same kinds of words and doing many of the same kinds of activities. A list of rules cannot solve this problem, but the completed work of Jesus Christ can.
We Christians have died with Christ and our lives are now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then we also will appear with Him in glory. When we set our minds on this, we will put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature and clothe ourselves with Christ. That is what God has provided to free us from worldliness.