Colossians 3:2

Where Are Your Affections?

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2 (AV).

Boys and girls are constantly setting their affections on certain things.

In an Industrial School which I know, I noticed that the boy who wore “buttons” seemed very interested in his work. He opened the door with the solemnity of a grand footman: he helped to hand round the cakes at the annual tea-meeting with the bearing of a trained waiter. “You will be a waiter yet, and a good one,” I said to myself. His affections were set on that above everything else. Doubtless the superintendent watched him, and would give him the necessary chance. It reminded me of a story I heard about a man who had risen to great wealth and power from being a poor boy. Someone said to him one day with a sneer, “I remember when you used to black boots.” “Yes,” answered the other; “and didn't I always black them well?” He had set his affections on getting on, and had succeeded. These were wise boys. Here is a story about another.

A poor Italian greengrocer, living in France, was saying good-bye to her boy. She had great ambitions for him. “My boy,” she said, “when you come back, try to come back somebody.” The boy reached Paris and managed to get a situation in which he worked very hard. When other fellows were out swinging their canes and smoking, he was trying to learn things. His study was just a little attic. He worked on and on; he had set his affections on being somebody. One day a great man was taken ill, so that he could not prepare a speech he had promised to deliver. He sent to the attic for this young man, and asked him to take his place. The young man did it, and his speech made a great stir. Next morning, everyone was asking “Who is the fine orator?” He rose until, at thirty-two, he was the leader of Paris, and the greatest speaker of the Republic. When he died men said, “The Republic has lost its greatest man.” His name was Gambetta; some of the big boys and girls may have heard of him. His life is an example of perseverance and industry.

But the text says, “Set your affection on things above.” People who have the best of success in this world are apt to forget that there is a heaven. During a walk through the woods a gentleman believed he had lost a watch-trinket on which he set great value. He retraced his steps, but no longer saw the graceful outline of the trees, the green abundance of the leaves, and the tracery of the white clouds upon the blue sky. He was looking downwards among the fallen and parched leaves, the scanty grass, the gnarled roots, and the fragrant-less weeds which bordered his pathway. One bit of gold made him alive to what was below him, and dead to what was above him. Money can draw away men's hearts from the beautiful facts of the spiritual life to the refuse and weeds of the world. The Christian looks up and not down.

There was a famous painter called Guido. One day he was asked from what models he got his beautiful female faces. Guido called to a dirty, ugly-looking Italian beggar, and told him to stand looking up to the sky. Then the painter took a brush, and painted a most lovely woman's face. The beautiful thought was in himself. It did not matter how ugly the model was. Boys and girls, if we have high and beautiful thoughts the ugliness that is in the world cannot hurt us.

You say you cannot understand what is meant by setting your affections on things above. In the form of an Allegory, Bunyan tells the story of a man who had come to realize that to set one's affections on the world meant, in the end, destruction. He felt very miserable, and did not know what to do. Setting out to escape from it, he met a man called Evangelist. “What shall I do?” he cried. “Do you see yonder wicket gate?” Evangelist asked. The man said “No.” Then said the other, “Do you see yonder shining light?” He said, “I think I do.” Then said Evangelist, “Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto, so shalt thou see the gate; at which when thou knockest, it shall be told what thou shalt do.”

Boys and girls, you know the shining light. Does it not come to you when you read a book telling of noble deeds? It comes to you sometimes when you have said your prayers. You feel it when you sing certain hymns. You sing “Nearer my God to Thee,” don't you? And at times you imagine you understand the words. It is the shining light. To repeat the words of Evangelist, “Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto; so shalt thou see the gate, at which when thou knockest, it shall be told what thou shalt do.”

On what are you setting your affections?