Things on Earth

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

·       1Tim 4:8 upon that which is to come

Col 1:2 Remember Paul wrote this epistle to Christians, not unsaved, evil loving men (Rom 1:32). Paul did not waste his epistles teaching the unsaved to live as if they are born again. He wrote all his epistles to exhort Christians to live as if they are saved. Christians are not to set our affection on things on the earth over the things above.

·       Mat 6:20 must not be replaced with Mat 6:19.

·       Col 1:21, Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ø    What do we focus our mind upon?

Ø    Vanity is placing greater affections on things on the earth than on things above: things that have no eternal value will perish  

·       Eph 2:1-3; 1John 2:16-17 The course of this world is is according to the prince of the power of the air and will pass away.

Things on the earth.

·       Col 2:8, 20; Rom 16:17 Rudiments of the world; rules set by the world that are contrary to God’s word: False teaching or what the world declares to be right and good. 1Tim 4:3; Heb 13:9

·       Mat 6:19, 24; Ps 49:6-7 You can not buy your salvation or salvation for someone else.

·        (Col 2:20-23)

·       1Tim 6:10, 17a The “love” of money leads to one being highminded, and trusing in uncertain riches,

.Two examples of this vanity in the Bible

*Luke 12:16-21

** Deu 17:16, Isa 31:1 with 2Chron 1:15-17 Solomon’s disobedience cost him his kingdom

While most examples of things on earth are centered around money, wealth itself is not the problem. 1Tim 6:10

·       Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth

·       Wealth often leads to Gal 6:3 deceiving our selves by thinking we are something when compare to God we are nothing

·       Mat 6:24 with 1Tim 6:17b Seek what the world has to offer or what God has to offer.

·       Paul is not teaching against wealth but about placing your affection on anything that distracts our holding Christ in preeminence in all things.  Psalm 52