Word: Earthly Concern
Definition: "Earthly concern" refers to the issues, problems, or interests that people have in their everyday lives on Earth. These include things like work, relationships, health, and material possessions, as opposed to spiritual or religious matters related to heaven or the afterlife.
Usage Instructions: - "Earthly concern" is a noun phrase, so it is used as a subject or object in a sentence. - It generally appears in contexts discussing priorities, values, or the distinctions between material life and spiritual beliefs.
Example Sentence: "While some people focus on their earthly concerns, others believe that spiritual matters are more important."
Advanced Usage: In more complex discussions, "earthly concern" can be used to contrast with spiritual or eternal concerns. For example, in philosophical or religious texts, one might discuss how earthly concerns can distract individuals from seeking a higher purpose.
Word Variants: - Earthly (adjective): Pertaining to the physical world. - Concern (noun): A matter of interest or importance.
Different Meanings: - "Concern" can also mean to worry about something, as in "I have a concern about my health." - "Earthly" can refer to anything related to the Earth, not just in a spiritual context, such as "earthly pleasures" (like food, entertainment, etc.).
Synonyms: - Temporal matters - Worldly interests - Material concerns
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: - "Caught up in earthly concerns:" This idiom means being so involved in daily life activities that one forgets about or neglects more important spiritual or moral issues. - "Put aside earthly concerns:" This phrase means to stop worrying about everyday issues to focus on higher ideals or spiritual matters.