Have you ever known an obsessive person? He is preoccupied, possessed, driven, and singularly focused on accomplishing an objective. Nothing else matters. His mind is consumed with thoughts about the task. His time, energy, and resources are used for the mission. He lives life with blinders on.
“Obsession” comes with a great amount of negative baggage in our parlance. The obsessive person has unhealthy fixations that cause him to lose broader perspectives. While obsessions can be taken to unhealthy extremes, “obsession” is close to what Paul commands the Colossian Christians to do when he tells them to “seek” and “set their minds” on things above (Col 3:1-2).
The word Paul uses that is commonly translated as “set your minds” refers to more than having random thoughts here and there. As James Dunn notes, this is a settled way of understanding, a cast of mind, a settled way of looking at things, and a sustained devotion to and enactment of a life cause (The Epistles to the Colossians and Philemon, 205). This mindset controls everything about your life; it is a way of seeing God, others, and the world around you, determining how you relate to all of them. This way of thinking digs into the deepest part of our hearts, revealing our deepest desires and allegiances.
Our minds are to be controlled by things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. This is an allusion to Psalm 110:1: “Yahweh said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.” The right hand of God is the central command for the kingdom. Jesus has been raised from death and to the throne so that the original dominion mission given to man will be completed. The Father granted him authority because of his obedience (Phil 2:6-11) and gave him the project to bring the created order to its intended glory. The project began in earnest at his ascension and will continue until he comes to complete it by defeating the last enemy, death, in our resurrection from the dead (1 Cor 15:20-28).
When Paul says we are to seek and set our minds on things above, he is speaking about seeking and setting our minds on this kingdom mission. We are to be obsessed with the kingdom. Nothing else matters. Everything we think and do is in service to the kingdom. If a thought, word, or deed doesn’t fit with the kingdom mission, we ditch it. If it serves the kingdom mission, we use it.
This worldwide, all-of-history-encompassing mission is not accomplished by any one of us as individuals. Instead, each of us plays our part. You and I are responsible for bringing God’s wise order to the bits of creation over which he gives us authority. You start with your own body. Every thought is to be taken captive to the obedience of Christ, and the members of your body are to be used in the service of righteousness. Sin must be fought and put to death (Col 3:5; Rom 6). Taking dominion of your body is your kingdom mission.
God has given many of us a space as well, whether that is a house, a yard, a room, or some other space. Your kingdom mission is to bring order to the chaos. This may mean cleaning the house that is bound to become messy again or taking care of your yard, keeping it as nice as possible. We do these things not only because it is a “good witness” for unbelievers but because it is the right thing to do. God creates and sustains flowers, animals, and sea creatures that will never have human eyes laid upon them. Their creation and maintenance are good because God made them, not because someone else will see them. We are his image. We create order where there is chaos because it is good; it is the right and beautiful thing to do.
Our families are to be well-ordered (a focus of Paul later in Colossians 3). Husbands, wives, children, masters, and servants must be in right relationships. Our weddings, marriages, and how we rear our children are part of the kingdom mission and should reflect God’s kingdom purposes.
Our jobs outside our homes must also serve the kingdom. We are to be fruitful or productive, and that productivity must be of such quality that God will look upon and pronounce it “good.” If you are making widgets, they ought to be the best widgets, not because the boss is watching or you might lose your job, but because when God makes something, it is good.
The proclamation of the gospel is also a major aspect of the kingdom mission. When we have the opportunity to announce that Jesus is Lord and call people to faith and repentance, we must do it.
Your mind being controlled by the kingdom mission means that the mission dictates the decisions you make, the disciplines you employ, and the actions you take. Everything in life is measured by the question, “Does this fit the kingdom mission? Does this serve to advance the cause of the kingdom?” If it does, you do it. If it doesn’t, you ditch it.
