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There is —

1. A philosophic materialism which reduces the soul to a series of phenomena to be accounted for by superiority of physical organization in man, and makes God an expression for the sum of nature's workings.

2. A practical materialism which does not trouble itself to deny the existence of the soul or the claims of God, but is nevertheless buried in matter, and swallowed up of earthliness. There were baptized Christians in Philippi who were enemies of the Cross, because while wearing the Christian name they were given up to sensuality. This, in various forms, is a crying evil in all prosperous times. The text is applicable to the worldling now.

I. WHO ARE THEY WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS?

1. Those whose sole care is the increase of wealth. Business occupies their whole attentions. Material interests absorb their whole soul. Such was the man described by our Lord (Luke 7:18, etc.). These divorce what God has joined together — diligence in business and fervency of spirit.

2. Those whose sole enjoyment is the pleasures of this life (Luke 16:19). "Whose god is their belly" describes one type of sensual enjoyment. But a man wholly given up to even innocent enjoyment is, in truth, a mere sensualist. He neglects and despises the pleasures of —

(1)  devotion;

(2)  godly companionship;

(3)  heavenly anticipation (ver. 20).

II. WHAT IS THE END OF THOSE WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS? "Destruction." "They that sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption" (Luke 16:24-25).

(Family Churchman.)

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KJV: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

WEB: whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.