Prioritizing Heavenly Things in Daily Christian Life
Prioritizing heavenly things in daily Christian life involves directing one's thoughts, affections, and efforts toward spiritual realities rather than solely earthly concerns [2, 3]. This concept is rooted in biblical exhortations, particularly in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul, for instance, urges believers to "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2 BSB) [2]. This instruction implies a deliberate shift in focus from the transient to the eternal.
The call to prioritize heavenly things is often linked to the believer's identification with Christ's resurrection. As Matthew Henry notes on Colossians 3:1, if believers "have risen with Christ," then their hearts should be set on heaven, detaching them from the world [8]. This perspective suggests that the spiritual privileges gained through Christ necessitate a corresponding change in daily living and priorities [8].
Scripture frequently contrasts earthly concerns with heavenly ones. Believers are cautioned against excessive worry about material possessions or worldly cares, as these can hinder spiritual growth and devotion [4]. Instead, their affections should be supremely set upon God, His commandments, His worship, and His people [3]. This includes a diligent pursuit of spiritual perfection and the cultivation of Christian graces [6]. The ultimate object of a believer's hope is Christ himself, and this hope is a fundamental element of Christian character, alongside faith and love [5].
The "heavenly things" encompass not only God and His attributes but also the future realities promised to believers. The book of Hebrews speaks of "heavenly things themselves" that require better sacrifices than earthly copies [1]. The New Testament also describes a "new heavens and new earth" (2 Peter 3:13), a vision of a renewed creation where God's people will dwell [7, 11]. This future hope provides a powerful motivation for prioritizing spiritual matters in the present [11]. John Chrysostom, in his homilies, also touches upon these themes, emphasizing the spiritual realities that await believers [10]. The imagery of heaven in Revelation depicts precious and luxurious earthly materials as common building elements there, further highlighting the superior value of heavenly realities [9].
Sources
- Hebrews “It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. -- Hebrews 9:23”
- Colossians “Colossians 3:2 (BSB) — Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affections, The — Should be supremely set upon God -- De 6:3; Mr 12:30. Should be set Upon the commandments of God. -- Ps 19:8-10; 119:20,97,103,167. Upon the house and worship of God. -- 1Ch 29:3; Ps 26:8; 27:4; 84:1,2. Upon the people of God. -- Ps 16:3; Ro 12:10; 2Co 7:13-15; 1Th 2:8. Upon heavenly things. -- Col 3:1,2. Should be zealously engaged for God -- Ps 69:9; 119:139; Ga 4:18. Christ claims the first place in -- Mt 10:37; Lu 14:26. Enkindled by communion with Christ -- Lu 24:32. Blessedness of making God the object of -- Ps 91:14. Should not grow cold -- P”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Care, Overmuch — About earthly things, forbidden -- Mt 6:25; Lu 12:22,29; Joh 6:27. God's providential goodness should keep us from -- Mt 6:26,28,30; Lu 22:35. God's promises should keep us from -- Heb 13:5. Trust in God should free us from -- Jer 17:7,8; Da 3:16. Should be cast on God -- Ps 37:5; 55:22; Pr 16:3; 1Pe 5:7. An obstruction to the Gospel -- Mt 13:22; Lu 8:14; 14:18-20. Be without -- 1Co 7:32; Php 4:6. Unbecoming in saints -- 2Ti 2:4. Uselessness of -- Mt 6:27; Lu 12:25,26. Vanity of -- Ps 39:6; Ec 4:8. Warning against -- Lu 21:34. Sent as a punishment to”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hope — One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4)." Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
- 2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 3:13: 3:13 the new heavens and new earth: See Isa 65:17; 66:22; Rev 21.”
- Colossians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Colossians 3:1: The apostle, having described our privileges by Christ in the former part of the epistle, and our discharge from the yoke of the ceremonial law, comes here to press upon us our duty as inferred thence. Though we are made free from the obligation of the ceremonial law, it does not therefore follow that we may live as we list. We must walk the more closely with God in all the instances of evangelical obedience. He begins with exhorting them to set their hearts on heaven, and take them off from this world: If you then have risen with Christ. It is our privilege th”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:21: 21:21 Things that are precious and luxurious on earth are common building materials in heaven.”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: 13:17 13:23 James 1:6 2:13 2:19 2:26 3:11 4:3 1 Peter 1:3 1:12 2:13 2:21 2:21 2:22 2:22 2:22 5:5 5:8 5:8 5:8 2 Peter 2:4 3:13 1 John 2:9 3:2 3:8 4:8 Revelation 1 1:4 1:9 1:11 1:16 1:20 2 3 3:12 14:1 14:4 14:13 15:6 20:9 22:16 Tobit 12:9 Wisdom of Solomon 1:4 1:14 11:23 11:24 14:16 Sirach 2:2 2:2 2:4 2:10 2:11 2:27 3:10-12 3:11 5:6 6:14 6:16 6:34 7:6 7:31 9:13 9:15 10:9 10:12-13 11:1 11:2 11:3 11:3 11:4 11:15 11:28 12:13 13:15 14:9 15:9 16:3 18:13 18:13 19:14-15 20:20 21:2 22:21-22 23:17 23:17 25:1 25:1 25:11 26:27 28:6 31:1 32:10”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:1: 21:1–22:9 The final scenes of the new heaven and earth are striking pictures of a new community and home for God’s people that is fashioned and given by God. These scenes help to lift the spirits of persecuted Christians. John lays out his basic vision (21:1-8) and follows it with two expansions: (1) In 21:9-27, he presents the new Jerusalem as the site of holy perfection; (2) in 22:1-5, he describes the new Jerusalem as the ultimate Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve could have experienced had they not sinned. 21:1 The vision involves God’s creation of the new ”