There are many places in Scripture where we’re commanded to love God with all our heart/mind/soul/strength. And many Christians try to nail down precise definitions of what each of those things represents. Some even try to debate whether we’re made of two parts (body and soul) or three (body, soul, and spirit).
The reality is that God’s just trying to make us think about every different aspect of our lives. From our thoughts and beliefs, to our feelings and emotions, to our dreams and ambitions. Every little part of us should be directed toward God and dependent on God.
Like Jesus said to a scribe, “Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:29).
He’s quoting Deuteronomy 6:5: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Our heart is the command center of life, and our soul is the spiritual motivation for life. And our strength is our power, influence, and possessions.
But here’s something striking. When Jesus quotes this verse to the scribe, he adds something that isn’t in Deuteronomy. The scribe would be mouthing the words along with Jesus, since he recites this verse twice every day: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your stre … mind? Wait, what? Mind? That’s not what Moses said!”
So when the scribe responds, he tries to change it back! “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one else except him. And to love him with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:32-33).
He’s deliberately taking mind back out!
But Jesus added that word specifically for the person he’s talking to: A scribe. Someone who studies the Law of Moses all day long. A theology geek. Someone who deals with theories and philosophies and intellectual arguments all day.
Jesus knows that this guy is tempted to love his own knowledge and logic and intellectual ability more than he loves God. So Jesus is telling him, “God has a demand on your whole life! Every single part!”
He wants every moment of your life. Every thought that goes through your head. Every activity you pursue. Every relationship you enjoy. All dedicated to him.
Jesus is pointing out the fact that there’s usually some little part of our lives that we want to hold back. Even people who give him a lot often get to a point where they say, “I don’t need to give him any more. That’s good enough.”
I saw this post a while ago: “What if 99.9 percent was good enough?” If it was, then 29,000 credit card transactions would be deducted from the wrong account in the next 60 minutes. If 99.9 percent was good enough, then 12 newborns would be given to the wrong parents in the next 24 hours. 22 commercial airline flights would crash in the next 24 hours. And that’s just in the United States!
Obviously, 99.9 percent isn’t good enough for so much of life. So why is our spiritual life any different?
God wants every part of our lives dedicated to him, but we usually hold back a few areas. This theology nerd was holding on to his mind. His intellect. Other folks might hold back their time. They stay busy with work, social media, and binge-watching The Office again, but don’t have time for prayer or ministry. Other folks might hold back their money. They feel insecure living in the place with the highest cost of living in America, so they’re nervous to give money over to God.
But Jesus gave everything up for us, even to the point of giving up his very life. The least we can do is give our time, money, and minds to him.