Why should Christians set their affections on things above rather than on earthly things?
Believers should set their affection on things above because they have been risen with Christ and their old life is dead. Their life is hidden with Christ in God, and Christ sits at God's right hand. This union with Christ is their secure position, so earthly things should not command their ultimate affection.
In Colossians 3:1-3, the instruction is grounded in the believer's union with Christ: if you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. The reason given is, For you are dead—that is, dead to the old life—and your life is hid with Christ in God. Les explains that we are hid in Christ, and Christ is in God; you cannot get any tighter than that, and that is our position. Because the believer's life and position are securely hidden in Christ, who is in God and seated at God's right hand, the things above are where the believer's affection rightly belongs.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Where is Christ seated, and where should we set our affection?
Christ is seated at the right hand of God, above. Because believers have been raised with Him, their affections should be set on things above, not on earthly things. This means seeking eternal priorities first, letting heaven be their primary interest rather than temporal, perishing things.
Why does Paul tell believers to set their affection on things above and not on the earth?
Believers are to set their affection on things above because they have experienced Christ's death, burial, and resurrection by faith and are now dead, so seeking heavenly things—where Christ sits at God's right hand—takes priority. Earthly things are not wrong if kept in proper order under spiritual priorities.
More Questions
Why should believers set their affection on things above rather than on things on the earth?
Believers should set their affection on things above because they are dead—a state that seems contradictory because people think they are living.