Carnal Mindedness

What happens when the mind is set on the wrong things? Paul answers in Romans 8: “to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” He adds that “the carnal mind is enmity against God,” and elsewhere that whoever sows to the flesh “shall of the flesh reap corruption.” Peter urges believers to abstain from “fleshly lusts, which war against the soul,” and John names “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” Christians differ on whether the flesh means an old nature or the whole self turned from God. Romans 8 is the place to read.

355 verses

Genesis

Genesis 25:30

And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

Genesis 25:31

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

Genesis 25:32

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

Genesis 25:33

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Genesis 25:34

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 27:36

And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

Numbers

Numbers 11:33

And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.

Numbers 11:34

And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 6:10

And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

Deuteronomy 6:11

And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

Deuteronomy 6:12

Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Deuteronomy 8:10

When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

Deuteronomy 8:11

Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

Deuteronomy 8:12

Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

Deuteronomy 8:13

And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

Deuteronomy 8:14

Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

Deuteronomy 8:15

Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

Deuteronomy 8:16

Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;

Deuteronomy 8:17

And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

Deuteronomy 8:18

But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 31:20

For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

Deuteronomy 32:15

But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 2:7

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

1 Samuel 8:19

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

1 Samuel 8:20

That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

Job

Job 20:4

Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

Job 20:5

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

Job 20:6

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

Job 20:7

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

Job 20:8

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

Job 20:9

The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

Job 20:10

His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

Job 20:11

His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

Job 20:12

Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

Job 20:13

Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:

Job 20:14

Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

Job 20:15

He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

Job 20:16

He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.

Job 20:17

He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

Job 20:18

That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

Job 20:19

Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

Job 20:20

Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.

Job 20:21

There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

Job 20:22

In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

Job 20:23

When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

Job 20:24

He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

Job 20:25

It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

Job 20:26

All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

Job 20:27

The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

Job 20:28

The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

Job 20:29

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

Job 21:11

They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

Job 21:12

They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

Job 21:13

They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

Job 21:14

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

Job 21:15

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Psalms

Psalms 37:16

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

Psalms 49:16

Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

Psalms 49:17

For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

Psalms 49:18

Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

Psalms 73:2

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

Psalms 73:3

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalms 73:4

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

Psalms 73:5

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

Psalms 73:6

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

Psalms 73:7

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

Psalms 73:8

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

Psalms 73:9

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

Psalms 73:10

Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

Psalms 73:11

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

Psalms 73:12

Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

Psalms 73:13

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

Psalms 73:14

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

Psalms 73:15

If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

Psalms 73:16

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

Psalms 73:17

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Psalms 73:18

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

Psalms 73:19

How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

Psalms 73:20

As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

Psalms 73:21

Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

Psalms 73:22

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

Proverbs

Proverbs 10:2

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Proverbs 10:22

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Proverbs 11:4

Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Proverbs 11:28

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Proverbs 13:7

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

Proverbs 13:8

The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 14:13

Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Proverbs 14:24

The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

Proverbs 15:6

In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

Proverbs 15:16

Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Proverbs 15:17

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Proverbs 15:21

Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

Proverbs 16:8

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Proverbs 19:4

Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

Proverbs 21:6

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

Proverbs 21:17

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

Proverbs 23:4

Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

Proverbs 23:5

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Based on Nave's Topical Bible by Orville J. Nave (1896). Public domain. KJV scripture text, public domain.