What is the mind set on

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.

- Colossians 3:1-3

It has often been said to Christians not to be "too heavenly minded such that they are of no earthly good". But how true is that statement? Can a man who is truely heavenly minded ever be of no good in this world? Is this statement true of our own Lord and Saviour, the Perfect Man?

"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."

- John 12: 27-28

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

- John 4:34

And this was the same heavenly minded Saviour who "[w]hen he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36)

Too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good? Surely there was no man more heavenly minded than Christ and yet He brought the greatest earthly good to Man, peace with God. Looking around today, surely the converse is more true. Many are too earthly minded to be of any heavenly good.

It is extremely discouraging that many in churches today, and many of the leadership in such churches, should look upon heavenly-mindedness as a trait to be restrained rather than as an attribute that should be inculcated and grown in all her members to the largest possible degree. To have high and beautiful thoughts of the God who ransomed them and who demands/deserves the highest praises of His Creation.

Now of course there is a need to communicate truth in a way that is understandable to each and every generation, but the mind is always "set on things above and not on things below." For what else could satisfy, motivate and sustain a man for the calling he has received?