Neither Your “bios” Nor Your “psuche” Are Worth Striving After.

Both of the above words are used for “life” in the Bible. The first one you will recognize as the root of the word “biology.” The second one you might recognize as “psyche.” The first word would refer to the life outside the body, the second would refer to life inside the body. We see this distinction in Luke 17:15 and 22-23.

Luke 12:15 (NAS): 15 Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life (“bios”) consist of his possessions.”

Luke 12:22–23 (NAS): 22 And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life (“psuche”) as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 23 “For life (“psuche”) is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”

The point Jesus is making is that your life inside your body, often referred to as “soul,” is not to be worried about. The food that goes into your body must not be your preoccupation. Life is more than your own soul. The possessions that prop up your life outside your body is also not worthy of your preoccupation. Your life is more than your possessions.

Your soul and body are both meant to be used for the kingdom of God. This is why Jesus says, “Don’t seek to keep your soul, but strive for the kingdom of God” (a conflation of Luke 17:33; Matthew 10:39; Matthew 6:33).

There is nothing that food or clothing, or any temporal, earthly material, can contribute to a soul or even a body. The most expensive dress cannot improve the body. The most exquisite dinner cannot improve the soul. The soul and body are improved by faith in Jesus Christ and the timing of their advancement is when He rewards you at His coming.

A good test to see if you are attempting to improve your soul and body is to look around you and see if you will find yourself missing something at the Rapture. For example, do you think that you will miss your car, or your house, or your bank account, or your hunting equipment? Do you think you will wish you could take it with you to heaven? If so, you are covetous and are not ready for His return.

It is better to spend your life improving your soul by abandoning its improvement and simply working for the kingdom of God; being preoccupied with the kingdom of God., which, I I the end, advances the soul and body into glory!