Yes — focusing on eternal things matters because the things that are above are lasting, while earthly, visible things are temporary.
Scripture and Les Feldick both show that a believer's priorities should be set on things above, where Christ is. This does not require rejecting earthly blessings, but it does mean material things must never become the first priority.
Colossians 3:1-2 — This is the core command to seek and set affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:1-2 instructs believers who have been raised with Christ to "seek those things which are above" and to "set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Jesus also made seeking the kingdom first the priority in Matthew 6:33, promising that other things would be added. Romans 8:6 draws a sharp contrast: "to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." This shows that a mind fixed on temporal, fleshly concerns leads to spiritual death, while a spiritual focus leads to life and peace. Paul also writes in 1 Corinthians 4:5 that the Lord will bring hidden things to light and manifest the counsels of hearts, "and then shall every man have praise of God." That coming manifestation gives believers something worth living for beyond this present material world.
Les Feldick explains that when a believer is risen with Christ, there is a change in appetites and desires, so they begin to seek eternal things. He frequently points to Colossians 3:1 and Matthew 6:33, saying that the issue is priorities: heaven should be the first interest, not earthly possessions. He is careful to say this does not mean going into a monastery or living as a Spartan. God has given blessings to enjoy, and a believer can enjoy life to the full; the point is that material things must stay in their rightful place. When possessions become the first priority, they "blind" people to spiritual truth, and Les warns that such people will be sorry someday. Les also contrasts the world's perspective with the believer's hope. He says even a full seventy years of living it up cannot compare to billions upon billions of years of eternity. He sees the Christian as having a hope that does not make us miserable, and he tells believers to live for the praise of God that will be given when everything is manifested.
No. Les Feldick explicitly says that seeking things above "doesn't mean you have to go into a monastery" or "live Spartan." God has given believers blessings to enjoy, and life can be enjoyed to the full. Seeking eternal things first is about priorities, not about depriving oneself of every earthly pleasure.
Les warns that when material things become the first priority, they can blind people to spiritual truth. He quotes the scriptural warning that "to be carnally minded is death," while spiritually minded brings life and peace. He also observes that in a materialistic age, most motivation is material advancement, which he says is having our priorities wrong.
Les says that even if the world lives it up for a full seventy years, that is nothing compared to "the billions upon billions upon billions of years that eternity will be." Believers are not miserable because they have hope. That eternal hope makes seeking the kingdom first not a sacrifice but a wise priority.
What the Bible Really Says About Suffering and Glory
who Jesus was. You know, I've shared on this program, a gentleman came to my home several years ago, and that was his first question. Who in the world is Jesus Christ? Oh, I wish more people would ask that question. Too many people don't know. People do not understand that Jesus Christ of the new is the Jehovah of the old. Jesus of the new is the God of Genesis 1. One and the same.
Things Above vs. Things on Earth
Les emphasizes Paul's instruction to set affection on things above and illustrates that earthly possessions, once realized, lose their excitement, while eternal things will have a greater realization.
Priorities After Being Raised with Christ
Les teaches that those risen with Christ experience changed desires and should seek the kingdom of heaven first, while still being able to enjoy life.
Practical Christianity and Priorities
Les explains that setting priorities heavenward is practical Christianity and does not mean living a frugal or Spartan life.
The World's False Promise to 'Live It Up'
Les counters the world's idea that believers are giving up good times by pointing to the believer's hope, which makes Christians not miserable.
Eternity Versus a Few Years of Worldly Pleasure
Les urges people to get the perspective that even seventy years of earthly enjoyment cannot compare to billions of years of eternity.
Carnally Minded Versus Spiritually Minded
Les warns that when material things become first priority and blind people to spiritual truth, they will wish they had straightened out their priorities. Carnal-mindedness leads to death; spiritual-mindedness leads to life and peace.
Living for the Praise of God
Les says that most motivation is material advancement, but our priorities are wrong; believers should live for the coming praise of God when every heart is manifested.
Colossians 3:1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Paul makes seeking things above the direct command to someone risen with Christ, answering what our focus should be.
Colossians 3:2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Paul repeats the command regarding affection, contrasting heavenly and earthly targets.
Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Jesus gives the same priority principle in the Gospels; the kingdom comes first and other things are added.
Romans 8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Shows the spiritual danger of carnal-mindedness and the life and peace that come from spiritual-mindedness.
1 Corinthians 4:5: Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Believers are to live for the day when God will bring hidden things to light and give praise.
No. He says that doesn't mean going into a monastery or living Spartan; God has given blessings to enjoy and believers can enjoy life to the full. The issue is priorities—heaven should be first.
Les uses Jesus' words to show that seeking the kingdom of heaven first is the priority, and then other things will be added. This is how a believer keeps temporal things in their proper place.
He says most motivation is material advancement and warns that when possessions become the first priority they blind people to spiritual truths. He says people will wish they had straightened out their priorities.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Suffering and Glory