Be Heavenly-Minded and Still of Earthly Good
Luke 9:60 — Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
The phrase “so Heavenly-minded, they are no earthly good” often refers to someone so focused on spiritual matters that they neglect the practical needs of the people around them. While Jesus calls us to focus on the Kingdom of God and prioritize His mission, we also know from Scripture that caring for others—especially family and those in need—is critical to living out our faith.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus demonstrated that love for God and people go hand in hand. In Matthew 22:37-40, when asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus responded, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind… And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
This dual commandment shows that being Heavenly-minded—focused on God and His Kingdom—does not mean we ignore our earthly responsibilities to love and serve others. Instead, it should inspire and inform how we fulfill them. Our love for God should overflow into our relationships, making us more compassionate, generous, and attentive to the needs around us.
The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is a perfect example of how we can balance our spiritual priorities with practical service. In the story, two religious figures—a priest and a Levite—pass by a man who was beaten and left for dead. Though they were likely focused on their religious duties, they missed an opportunity to show love and compassion. The Samaritan, however, stopped and cared for the man, even though it was inconvenient and costly. Jesus uses this parable to teach us that love for others is a core part of Heavenly-mindedness.
In Luke 9:60, Jesus wasn’t dismissing the importance of family or the need to bury the dead. Instead, He was pointing to the urgency of the Kingdom of God and the need to prioritize its mission. Sometimes, we may find ourselves in situations where we must choose between competing priorities. Jesus calls us to place Him and His Kingdom above all else, but that doesn’t mean neglecting our earthly duties.
It’s all about balance and discernment. We can be Heavenly-minded while still caring for others by asking ourselves, “How does my love for God impact my care for people?” The more deeply we are connected to God, the more we will reflect His heart of compassion, which means being fully present for others in their time of need.
Even Jesus, during His earthly ministry, balanced His focus on the Kingdom of God with tangible acts of service. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and comforted the grieving. In John 19:26-27, while He was hanging on the cross, Jesus ensured that His mother, Mary, would be cared for by instructing the disciple, John, to take her into his home. This shows that even while accomplishing the ultimate act of salvation, Jesus did not neglect the practical needs of those He loved.
To reconcile being Heavenly-minded with caring for others, we can embrace a Kingdom perspective—seeing all of life, including our earthly responsibilities, through God’s rule and reign. The Kingdom of God is not just a future hope; it is a present reality we are called to live out daily.
Being Heavenly-minded doesn’t mean escaping from the world or neglecting the needs around us. Instead, it means bringing the values of God’s Kingdom—love, justice, compassion, and mercy—into every aspect of our lives. We preach the Kingdom of God through our words and actions as we care for others, seek justice, and show compassion to those in need.
Remember that our primary calling is glorifying God and making His Kingdom known. When we face competing priorities, ask yourself, “What will best reflect God’s love and His Kingdom in this situation?”
Caring for others is a tangible way to express our love for God. As Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” By meeting the needs of others, we are ministering to Jesus Himself.
Through prayer and discernment, we can ask God to guide us in balancing our spiritual focus with our earthly responsibilities. He may call us to focus on family at certain times and step out in mission at other times.
One of the best ways to bring the Kingdom of God into our daily lives is by being fully present with the people around us. Whether comforting a grieving family member or sharing the Gospel with a neighbor, being present opens the door for God to work through us.
By embracing our Heavenly focus and earthly responsibilities, we can live out the fullness of God’s Kingdom here and now. We become ambassadors of His Kingdom in our spiritual mission and daily acts of service and love.
Author
Barbara Schobl-Legee
Barbara Schobl-Legee, raised in a military family from Florida, journeyed across the United States, embracing diverse faith experiences.
Baptized into the Baptist faith, she later became an ordained Pentecostal Holiness preacher and served as an Associate Pastor at Gospel Tabernacle and Antioch Southern Baptist Church.
Marrying into a Catholic family, Barbara and her husband found common ground in the Episcopal Church, where she now serves as a Licensed Lay Preacher in the Diocese of Central Florida.
Her fascination with prophecy, dating back to 2008, led her to pen four books on the subject. In promoting her prophecy books, she earned the title of international author, reaching readers in the U.K., Australia, and Canada.
Additionally, she's an international speaker and Bible teacher, sharing insights and teachings with Kenyan women via Messenger.