Obligation to the Soul

The believer’s responsibility to his soul can be summed up in the following way:


 (1) Renewing the Mind. This is a key requirement in attaining true holiness. In Romans 12:2, Paul has this to say: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect, will of God." Likewise, in Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul encourages us to "put off…the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts," to "be renewed in the spirit" of our minds and to put on "the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." The implication is that, if we must move from the level of conformity with the world to the level of transformation, we must renew our minds in line with God's Word. Likewise if we must successfully put off the old man (who is corrupt and laden with lust) and put on the new man (who is patterned after the image of God), we must be renewed in the attitudes of our minds. (For a better understanding of the implications of an unrenewed mind and the processes involved in the renewal of the mind, watch out for our teaching on Renewing the Mind).
 
(2) Developing the soul. This comes through the right kind of knowledge and exercise. In addition to cleaning up the mind, each man needs to develop the potentials of the mind, by engaging it with a variety of relevant and productive knowledge. This results in a sound mind, which God has, in principle, given to us: “…God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a SOUND MIND” (2 Tim.1:7 – emphasis ours). But, in practice, we have to work towards attaining it. A sound mind is simply a stable, well developed and God-filled mind. The chief obstacles to a sound mind are fear and timidity. Likewise, a sound mind is the antidote to fear, timidity, indecision and double mindedness. Daniel was a good example of a well developed soul and a sound mind: “Forasmuch as an EXCELLENT SPIRIT, and knowledge, and understanding…were found in the same Daniel…now let Daniel be called…” (Dan.5:12 – emphasis ours).  Similarly, Caleb and Joshua had “another spirit,” which enabled them to follow the Lord fully or wholeheartedly (Num.14:24). The word “spirit”, as used in the above examples, refers to an attitude; in this case, one that is consistent with a sound mind. This is buttressed by 2 Corinthians 4:13: “We having the same spirit (or attitude) of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken…” (words in brackets ours). This is not so much about secular education as it is of spiritual education. For instance, Daniel’s excellent spirit was a by-product of his spiritual education. The same was true of Joseph’s ability to interpret things, Solomon’s amazing wisdom and David’s extraordinary military skills. We need a sound mind and a well developed soul, if we must stand on the same platform with God, share His perspective and walk with Him.
 (3) Subjecting the soul to the leadership of the spirit-man. To do otherwise would be unsafe for every component of the man, including the soul. Paul talks about “casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor.10:5). Knowing that the spirit of man is God’s instrument for direction, the soul itself is endangered when it is allowed to usurp the functions of the spirit; hence the need to cast down imaginations and high things, and align every thought to the demands of Christ. The implication of dealing with thoughts and imaginations, which are faculties of the soul, is that the spirit is being helped to remain in leadership.