Much ink has been spilled over the centuries over what constituent parts make up man. Not a man, but man. It took us until the 21st century to get confused over what a man is. What man is, on the other hand, we still haven’t nailed down. Are we bodies and souls? Bodies, souls and spirits? Hearts, minds, souls and strengths? I’m comfortably in the first camp- we are bodies and souls. I don’t, however, wish to go to war over the issue with anyone who differs.
However many parts we may think we are, however many parts we actually are, all of us and every part of us recognizes our calling to commit all of us and every part of us to the living God. When God commands us to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength He’s not suggesting that we can keep our spirit to ourselves. He demands of us all of us.
Paul spills a great deal of ink in his first letter to the church at Corinth on the parts of the body. He is not describing man, but the church, how we are one body made of different parts. He is impressing on us that we no one part of the body of Christ can thrive without all the other parts. Eyes ought not to boast over ears, nor ought feet bemoan not being hands.
Fools that we are, I fear we take Paul’s wisdom and use it to justify our failure to serve the Lord with all that we are. Those who love the study of theology consider themselves to be loving God with their minds. Those less inclined to study theology consider those more inclined to be captive to “head knowledge,” or to be “puffed up.” Those with a passion for the lost see themselves as wise (Prov. 11:30) while those given to service think they alone practice pure and undefiled religion (James 1:27).
Sound doctrine matters. But it is not by itself sufficient. Seeking those still dead in their sins matters. But it is not by itself sufficient. Serving those in need matters. But it is not by itself sufficient. And no one person can excuse failure on one of these callings on the grounds of success on another. A swelled brain won’t make up for an atrophied heart, nor a heart filled with passion for a lazy hand.
Try this experiment. Quickly, without giving it a thought, which one are you? If the answer doesn’t come to mind, it might be that you are none of these. If it does come to mind it’s likely you need to strengthen the others. Don’t reject the strength you have, but strengthen the things that remain. You will be stretched and you will grow. More important, the body will be served and its Head, our Lord, will be glorified.