Skip to main content

Too Heavenly-Minded to Be Any Earthly Good?


But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (I Timothy 6:11-12) 

            Are you a man of God? Paul said there is neither male nor female, so if you’re woman of God, you’re also a man of God. Are you one? If so, you need to flee from all this: love of money, false doctrine, conceitedness…. Instead, you are to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Notice that love alone is not enough. Your goal is to be, as someone I know is wont to describe it, “so heavenly minded you’re no earthly good.” Of course, his description isn’t accurate. It is when we are so heavenly minded that we become earthly good.
         When we’re earthly minded, we’re no heavenly good, and that leads to being no earthly good either. That’s why we have to fight the good fight of the faith. This fight isn’t about ripping open your shirt to reveal the Super Saint hidden behind your Casper Milquetoast exterior. It’s not about your physique. It’s about your soul-ique. Your soul is your promised land, that vast area that God has given to you to take back from your enemies: the world, the flesh and the devil. As with the Israelites, any time we fail to destroy our enemies, they return to take back the land we thought we’d won. It’s not a “sign a treaty to end the war” sort of war. It’s a way in which we must fight to our deaths so that we are free. We are given eternal life as a gift, but in order to receive it, we must take it and be responsible for it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more