Unlocking the Fullness of the Human Being – What is Man?
We live in a world obsessed with the tangible. Our days are often consumed by the demands of our physical bodies – what to eat, how to exercise, what clothes to wear. We pour our energy into our careers and education, striving for success and recognition in the earthly realm. Our social calendars fill with engagements, seeking connection and belonging within our communities. While these aspects of life are not inherently wrong, they often overshadow a crucial dimension of our being, a dimension that holds the key to true fulfillment and our eternal destiny: the spirit man.
The Human Being: More Than Meets the Eye
Scripture reveals that humanity is far more complex than a mere collection of cells and experiences. We are not simply physical beings destined for eventual decay. Instead, we are created in the very image of God (Genesis 1:27), a triune being mirroring, in a finite way, the triune nature of our Creator. We are a magnificent tripod, comprised of a spirit, possessing a soul, and living within a physical body.
Thessalonians beautifully articulates this holistic view of humanity: “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). This verse clearly delineates the three distinct, yet interconnected, aspects of our being.
Our BODY is the physical vessel through which we interact with the material world. It is the tangible part of us, subject to the laws of nature, growth, and eventual decay. We experience the world through our senses, and it is through our bodies that we carry out our earthly Tasks.
Our SOUL is the seat of our intellect, emotions, and will. The mind thinks, the will chooses and the body/emotions react. The soul is the psychological and emotional center of our being, where our thoughts, feelings, desires, and personality reside. It is the part of us that reasons, makes choices, and experiences the joys and sorrows of life.
But at the very core of our being lies the Spirit. This is the part of us that is uniquely created in God’s image, the part that has the capacity for communion with the divine. It is through our spirit that we can know God, receive His Holy Spirit, and experience spiritual life. As Romans 8:16 proclaims, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
Neglecting the Inner Man – The Spirit Man
In our contemporary society, and even within many Christian circles, there is often an undue emphasis placed on the physical and soulish aspects of our being. We are bombarded with messages promoting physical fitness, material success, and emotional well-being. While these are important to a degree, they can easily become idols, consuming our time, energy, and attention to the detriment of our spiritual lives.
Consider the relentless pursuit of the perfect body, often fueled by media portrayals and societal pressures. Hours are spent in the gym, meticulously counting calories, and obsessing over physical appearance. While taking care of our physical health is a biblical principle (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. it can become an all-consuming endeavor that leaves little room for spiritual growth.
Similarly, our pursuit of worldly achievements – career advancement, financial security, academic accolades – can become the primary focus of our lives. We invest vast amounts of time and energy into these pursuits, often at the expense of our relationships with God and our families. While diligence and hard work are commendable (Colossians 3:23-24), 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.they should not become the ultimate measure of our worth or the sole source of our fulfillment.
Even our pursuit of emotional well-being, while important, can sometimes become self-centered and detached from our spiritual reality. We seek therapy, self-help books, and external validation to address our emotional needs, often neglecting the deep and lasting peace that comes from a right relationship with God. This imbalance, this overwhelming focus on the external and the soulish, leads to a neglect of the “inner man,” the spirit that God has placed within us. We become like well-maintained houses with an empty and neglected inner chamber. This has severe consequences.
The Detrimental Consequences of Forgetting the Spirit
When our spirit is starved and underdeveloped, we experience a deep sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction, even amidst worldly success and comfort. We may achieve our earthly goals, but still feel a persistent longing for something more, a void that material possessions and human relationships cannot fill.
This spiritual neglect can also lead to:
- A distorted understanding of our identity: If we identify primarily with our physical appearance, our career, or our social status, our sense of self becomes fragile and dependent on external factors that are subject to change and loss. Our true identity, however, is rooted in our relationship with God through our spirit (Galatians 2:20).
- A lack of spiritual discernment: A malnourished spirit is less attuned to the voice of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. We become more susceptible to worldly influences and less able to discern truth from error (1 Corinthians 2:14).
- Weakness in the face of temptation: Our spirit, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is our primary source of strength in resisting temptation. When our spirit is weak, we are more vulnerable to the desires of the flesh and the schemes of the enemy (Galatians 5:16-17).
- A diminished capacity for spiritual growth: Just as a physically neglected body cannot grow strong, a spiritually neglected spirit remains stunted and unable to mature in Christ (Ephesians 4:15).
- A lack of true joy and peace: The deepest and most lasting joy and peace are found in a vibrant relationship with God through our spirit. When this connection is neglected, we are left searching for fleeting happiness in the temporal things of this world (John 15:11, Philippians 4:7).
- An inability to effectively serve God: Our spiritual gifts and our capacity to impact the world for Christ flow from our spirit, empowered by the Holy Spirit. A neglected spirit hinders our ability to fulfill God’s purposes for our lives (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
- Ultimately, neglecting our spirit has eternal consequences. Our spirit is the part of us that can have a relationship with God, and it is through faith in Jesus Christ, received in our spirit, that we are born again and receive eternal life (John 3:3-7, Romans 8:10).
Therefore take note to nourish and care for the inner man as we are not merely physical beings navigating a material world. The inner man strength contributes to the perfection of soul and body too. To do so a very good prescription of maintenance of this most valuable “creature” or “entity” called yourself – is well outlined in your bible. As a result we are to meditate on the word day and night.
Joshua 1:8 (NIV) “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything 1 written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful”
Matthew 4:4 (NIV): “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
