Hold everything earthly with a loose hand, but grasp eternal things with a death-like grip
Interpretation
Prioritize spiritual over material possessions, holding the latter lightly while being committed to the former.
This quote by Charles Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of valuing eternal truths and spiritual significance over temporary material possessions. It suggests that while one should not cling tightly to earthly belongings, which are transient and can lead to disappointment, one should hold on firmly to the truths and values that define one's existence and purpose.
In practice
In a sermon about detachment from materialism, you can use this quote to illustrate the importance of focusing on spiritual wealth.
Amusement should be used to do us good “like a medicine”: it must never be used as the food of the man...Many have had all holy thoughts and gracious resolutions stamped out by perpetual trifling. Pleasure so called is the murderer of thought. This is the age of excessive amusement: everybody craves for it, like a babe for its rattle.
When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honor to trust Him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle.
It is far easier to fight with sin in public than to pray against it in private.
You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.
After faith comes repentance, or, rather, repentance is faith's twin brother and is born at the same time.
["All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant."] The original Hebrew word that has been translated "paths" means "well-worn roads' or "wheel tracks," such ruts as wagons make when they go down our green roads in wet weather and sink in up to the axles. God's ways are at times like heavy wagon tracks that cut deep into our souls, yet all of them are merciful.
It isn't the oceans which cut us off from the world - it's the American way of looking at things.
Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. Everything passes away except God. God alone is sufficient.
The slave-breeders and slave-traders, are a small, odious and detested class, among you; and yet in politics, they dictate the course of all of you, and are as completely your masters, as you are the master of your own negroes.
They can send death at once, but life is slower.
Any pleasure that does no harm to other people is to be valued.
A Church that has lost its voice for justice is a Church that has lost its relevance in the world.
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