There is a flip side to the Scriptural truth of the world’s ever-growing weariness with those ever-growing weary with the world. It is that those ever-growing weary with the world are also ever-growing weary with the worldly. Worldly people and worldly things become increasingly boring to one who is becoming more and more otherworldly. Who wins Oscars or Super Bowls is considered inconsequential and conversations about Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes hold little interest to one who is fixed on running the Christian race in order to win a crown of righteousness at Christ’s appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Granted, it is often argued that one can become so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. However, Scripture actually teaches the opposite to be true—the only way to be of any earthly good is to be so heavenly minded. In Colossians 1:4-5, the Apostle Paul commends the Colossian Christians for their faith in Christ and love for one another. He then attributes these commendable attributes to the Colossians’ sure hope of Heaven, a hope founded upon the promise of the Gospel. 

According to the Apostle Paul, we will not have the faith in Christ or the love for others that we need if we don’t have a secure hope of Heaven. Think about it; if we don’t have any hope of the hereafter, why would we live for Christ in the here and now? As Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 15:32, if we have no hope of life after death, then, we should eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. Likewise, without any hope of the hereafter, would we not be less caring for others and personally adopt an “every man for himself” philosophy of life?

In Colossians chapters 3-4, Paul begins to teach the Colossians how they should live. He begins his instruction by explaining the absolute necessity of transferring one’s affections from earthly things to heavenly things (3:1-2). Paul understood, as few people do today, that there is no way we will ever live as Christ’s intends us to live until our souls are calmed and weaned from this world, our hearts are content with Christ alone, and our hope is fixed in Heaven, where Christ is seated on the right hand of God.

Contrary to popular opinion, it is impossible to be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good. Indeed, the Bible teaches that the only way to be of any earthly good is to be so heavenly minded. Although calmed and weaned souls will have their feet firmly planted on terra firma when it comes to their service of Christ in this world, they will live below with their heads in the clouds above and their hearts set on Christ. 

The calmed and weaned soul is ever-growing weary with the worldly and homesick for Heaven.