Set Your Mind on Things Above

I have an awesome guest author: Katherine Tielking. I really want to thank her for giving me one of her amazing papers to post. Hopefully I will have more guest authors or even a permanent author in the future.

            “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” This quote from Martin Luther contrasts two things: Earthly things, which will not last, and Heavenly blessings, which will last forever. Although worldly, physical possessions will not last, the heavenly and spiritual blessings God holds will last forever.

            Earthly, physical possessions, which are things man can hold, will not last. In 1 Samuel 16:7 in the Bible it says, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord look at the heart.” Some people would rather have material things instead of spiritual things. People would risk everything to have fame and wealth. Psalm 37:16 says, “Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked.” Wealth and fame will dissipate, but the spiritual blessings God holds will endure. People try so hard to gain wealth, fame, and other worldly things, but if they do not give their life to Christ, they will have nothing.

            In contrast, the things God holds, which are heavenly and spiritual blessings, will last forever. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” The heavenly and spiritual blessings, which are very important, will last forever. One of these heavenly blessings is eternal life. Jesus states in Matthew 19:29, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” Most people who are not Christians will not give up their worldly possessions. They think that what they own is more important than anything. In Luke 18:24-25, Jesus declares and proclaims, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The spiritual and heavenly blessings God holds are by far more important than the material possessions people own.

            Although worldly, physical possessions will not last, the heavenly and spiritual blessings God holds will last forever. There are two very important things that Martin Luther discusses in his quote: Earthly things will not last, and Heavenly blessings will last forever. The heavenly blessings God holds are by far more important than the worldly things here on Earth. Martin Luther’s quote sums up what should be declared by everyone. “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”