Useful Bible Studies > Colossians Commentary > chapter 3

Be constantly aware of God and of heaven

Colossians 3:2

When we read only one Bible verse, we can sometimes fail to understand the correct meaning. So, in Colossians 3:2, we could think that Paul did not want Christians to give much attention to anything in this world. However, that is not the correct meaning of Paul’s words.

That becomes very clear as we read through chapters 3 and 4. In these chapters, Paul constantly urges Christians to think about how they should live in this world. He speaks about relationships at church, in the family and at work. He advises Christians about how to deal with people who are not Christians (4:5-6). Elsewhere, he urged Christians to work hard and not to be lazy (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13). That was how Paul himself lived.

So clearly, Christians should act wisely and carefully in all their responsibilities in this world. However, they must not neglect their relationship with God in any of these matters. They should live as people who are constantly aware of God and of heaven. In their thoughts and in their words, they must constantly choose to think or to speak what God wants (3:5-8). At home or at work, they must act in the way that God approves of (Colossians 3:18 to 4:1). Their relationship with God must direct all of their relationships with other people, whether they are Christians (3:9-16) or not (4:5-6).

So that is the correct meaning of Paul’s words in Colossians 3:2. If we do not think about God, our thoughts and actions can very quickly become selfish and evil. It is so easy to think only about our own feelings: our desires, our emotions, our fears, our difficulties. So the Christian must turn his attention away from his current problems onto God. Then God will give that Christian the strength and wisdom to deal with his problems in this world (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; James 1:5).

Next part: A Christian's experience of life with Christ is real (Colossians 3:3)

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© 2019, Keith Simons.