All my life I heard the phrase, “So heavenly-minded that you’re no earthly good.” Even recently it has come up in some of the blogs I read.

So, is it good teaching? helpful instruction? valid warning?

No!

Anyone who is more heaven-minded than earth-struck will be doing good!

 

"Christ in the House of Martha and Mary&q...

“Christ in the House of Martha and Mary” by Jan Vermeer, 1655. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Consider this story. “As they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to him talk. But Martha was upset about all the work she had to do. So she asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me.’ The Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things. There’s only one thing you need. Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42 God’s Word).

Get this. Martha was practising hospitality, one of the highest ideals for Followers of God. (See Hebrews 13:2, for example).

But what was Mary, her sister, doing? Her mind was on heavenly things being taught by Jesus, and Jesus said that this was more important than hospitality!

Heavenly-minded people serve Jesus radically. They have such a close relationship with Jesus that they are less likely to get distracted by culture or human expectations. They serve the world and all its people, not just certain ones. They invite people to the Saviour, not a group. They spend time in meditation and prayer instead of rushing madly around going to meetings and working on buildings so much.

So I am screaming from the housetops (well, actually, writing in a blog) that this saying may suit religion, but it cannot suit the Redeemer.

“Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above—where Christ holds the highest position. Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things”
(Colossians 3:1-2 God’s Word).