Trivial Pursuit - Pt 2

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4 ESV).

Thomas McKeown, a renowned British physician argued that environmental factors largely determined the health of an individual. He also had a great deal to say about the trivialization of our modern cultured. To some degree he was right. He said, that the cell phone constantly “…tricks you with the trivial; it fools you into thinking that news and updates from the virtual world are more important than what’s right in from of you in the actual world right now.” Of course the cell phone isn’t the only thing that tricks us. Unfortunately, whether we are home with our family or busy at work we are constantly being offered distractions. One thing is certain. The constant pursuit of that which is trivial is a direct result of our unwillingness to “seek the things above.” There are a few practical considerations to correct this destructive behavior. First, repent and confess to God that this is a huge problem and involves our stubborn unwillingness to deal with personal sin. It is in this crying out to God for help that he will wake us up from the emptiness, the meaninglessness boredom in our quest to be titillated in body while the soul is starving for greatness. We must cry out for help to God. Superficiality is a very contagious disease. The cure is a return to the pursuit of our God. Second, we should set ourself on a conscious quest to obey God’s strategy for cultivating a spiritual mind that is fully alert to the glories of God, radiant in the world, and radiant in the word. We should pray that God would cause us to be stunned by the meaning of the verses of our reading today. It ought to drive us to be disciplined in the pursuit of that new mind-set, of setting your minds on things that are above. Third, we follow the direction of the Apostle Paul as he wrote to the Philippians: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8). In other words, Paul is calling us to discipline the focus of our minds so that we fix the mind, the focus of the mind, on things that are worthy and that have the potential to deepen and strengthen and purify our souls. Begin there. That will be a step toward becoming who your were always intended to be.