Head, Heart, Hands and Feet
QUESTIONS
Have you ever felt that there must be more to
Christianity than what you have been experiencing and witnessing?
Have you ever wondered, how can I direct my life
so that you please God more?
Have you noticed that there are some Bible
passages that most people rarely talk about or apply?
Have
you considered why do so many Christians seem so imbalanced in their practice
of Christianity?
Have
you asked, “How can my life become more transformed to become like Jesus Christ
through simple and practical principles that are clearly in the Bible?”
These
are the kinds of questions I have been pondering for about 40 years. I have
explored all sorts of avenues to find my answers to these question. And this
article is a simple summary of the insights I gained from much personal
exploration, Bible studies and observations.
INTRODUCTION
During the last 4 decades I have been a member of
churches from various denominations. These ranged from conservative to liberal,
from charismatic to fundamentalist, from mega church to home church. I listened
to untold hours of Bible teachers on the radio. I have investigated many
excellent Christian websites. I have read great books. God used these to give
me an understanding of biblical Christianity that is both wide and deep.
Also I have studied church history. Each
denomination has a history that leads to the ways they practice Christianity
currently. Most of the time a denomination started because the churches at that
time had gone astray from what the Bible teaches and got into serious
imbalances. So in an attempt to get back to authentic Christianity, the
founders emphasized the application of a few verses that had been neglected.
The study of church history reveals this kind of pendulum swinging.
So let us find our dynamic balance instead of
tilting to extremes. Let us consider the entire counsel of God’s Word from now
onward. And one way to guide us toward that harmony is to look to these 4
elements: head, heart, hands and feet.
HEAD
The head in this context relates to the knowledge
needed to live the life of a fully committed and growing disciple of the Lord
Jesus Christ. This is the arena of biblical literacy. In order to know who
Jesus Christ was then a study of the gospels is needed to know about His
earthly life. A study of the epistles is needed; to know about how to relate
with the risen Savior. There are lots of Bible passages that have been used in
children’s church and at
Vacation Bible Schools. These familiar tales reveal who God is and what He has
done.
To appreciate the fullness of the Scriptures then
it is useful to know the stories about the patriarchs, children of Israel,
judges, prophets, apostles and other key players. It is good to know about the
10 plagues that led to the release of the Hebrews, the conflict between King
Saul and David, as well as the missionary journeys of Paul. While they do not
have obvious direct personal application; they do paint the picture of how God
dealt with His people. The character of God has not changed; so we can trust
that He is the same today as when those events happened.
We are fortunate to have so many resources:
online, DVDs, CDs, software, Christian radio, Christian TV and in print. Every
year hundreds of more Christian books are published. Plus there are great Bible
Colleges and seminaries that offer courses both offline and online. A person
could study to gain head knowledge for an entire lifetime. And still there
would be enough materials untouched to full many more lifetimes that were never
studied.
The understanding of all 4 perspectives of head,
heart, hands and feet leads to the conclusion that biblical Christianity is far
more than just head knowledge. There is a danger that a person could invest all
their time and energy into learning without making the applications that the
Bible commands. The Word exhorts us to be a doer and not just a hearer. James
1:22 http://biblehub.com/james/1-22.htm Jesus said why do you call me Lord, Lord and
do not do what I say? Luke 6:46 http://biblehub.com/luke/6-46.htm
Head knowledge without personal application has
often led to self-righteousness, pride and arrogance. There are those outside
the faith that say the church is full of hypocrites. They say that because
church goers say one thing yet do another. This behavior of right talk with
wrong actions comes partly due to the imbalance of the head, heart, hands and
feet.
HEART
When Jesus was asked what is the greatest
commandment, He answered, “To love the Lord your God with all our heart,
mind and strength.” Matthew 22:37 http://biblehub.com/matthew/22-37.htm Notice that both
heart and mind are involved in loving God as He has commanded.. Then He went on
to say, “Love your neighbor
as yourself.” Matt 22:39 http://biblehub.com/matthew/22-39.htm Love of
God and the neighbor are expressions of the heart. So this greatest commandment cannot be obeyed
just in the head.
Is
it possible to obey the new commandment of loving one another by just think
loving thoughts? I suggest that such love involves the heart and not just the
head..
The love that the Bible teaches about is not the
romantic or sentimental kind of love that dominates movies, romantic novels,
pop songs, greeting cards and Valentine’s Day.
We are to love others as God in Christ loved us. 1
John 4:19 http://biblehub.com/1_john/4-19.htm We are to become vessels of honor that
demonstrate the unconditional love that is at the core of the gospel message.
We are to extend His grace and mercy generously. This includes those that are
easy to love as well as the unlovely and our enemies. Matt. 25:40 http://biblehub.com/matthew/25-40.htm , Luke 6:35 http://biblehub.com/luke/6-35.htm
The love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 http://biblehub.com/niv/1_corinthians/13.htm gives a
complete image of what God means by the term love. It is not possible to live
up to all of those high expectations all the time. However, with the help of
the indwelling Holy Spirit, and with spiritual maturity, it is possible to
express the love of God much of the time.
Paul said that the love of God compelled him. 2
Corinthians 5:14 http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/5-14.htm There
are many testimonies of missionaries who went to the mission field and remained
there. They stayed despite troubles due to the love God had given them to reach
that group of people. Recall John 3:16 http://biblehub.com/john/3-16.htm “God so loved the
world that He sent His only begotten Son.” That kind of love that motivated God is to motivate us as we engage
with others even when it may become uncomfortable.
The head needs to work together with the heart.
There are sincere and sweet people who are very relational. They are kind and
supportive of others. Often they are involved in community outreach,
hospitality or other ways to interact with others. Maybe their spiritual gift
is mercy or service. And they are needed especially these days. They are valuable
when there is so much isolation and loneliness. But they too need to study to
show themselves approved to God a workman that rightly divides the word of
truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 http://biblehub.com/2_timothy/2-15.htm They need to weave into their conversations
the precepts of the Bible and the uplifting of Jesus Christ. They need to know
how to pray according to the guidelines in the Bible.
HANDS
Becoming a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ
involves more than just Bible study and social life. While learning and
Christian fellowship are essential, they are not the whole picture.
The hands that express what is in the head thinks
and the heart feels in the name of Jesus, is what will glorify God. The hands
are needed to make things like sandwiches for the youth group, music for the
worship service and Bible lesson handouts. Hands carry things like flowers to
those who are in the hospital and meals to those recovering from surgery. Hands
pass out gospel tracts and gospels of John at the community outreach events.
Hands prepare the food, set the tables and clean up afterward during times that
believers gather for a fellowship meal.
Each spiritual gift and personality type has ways
to use hands in the service of God.
The hands can be used to bring the thoughts of
the head and the feelings of the heart into this physical world. Then others
can experience the truth and love of God. That is how we show and tell a
watching world what it is like to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. We
are vessels of His grace, mercy and love. Let your good deeds glorify your
Father in heaven. Matthew %:16 http://biblehub.com/matthew/5-16.htm
Note that I am using my hands on the computer
keyboard to prepare this message for you. So when you use the computer or smart
phone, then that is one way that hands fit into this dynamic. Everyday social
media like Facebook, Twitter and forums are used by God for His children to
contact skeptics, seekers and believers.
The Golden Rule says to do unto others as you
would have them do unto you. Matthew 7:12 http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-12.htm That
verse involves more than just using the head and heart. Actions become
involved. So the hands play a part.
Whatever your hand finds to do, then do that with
all your heart. Ecclesiastes 9:10 http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/9-10.htm So
biblical Christianity is more than thinking or feeling. It is actions that
involve the hands.
Jesus gave us a new commandment. We are to love
one another as He has loved us. John 13:34 http://biblehub.com/john/13-34.htm We are to use words and deeds to express the
love of God. 1 John 3:18 http://biblehub.com/1_john/3-18.htm He said
others will know that we are His disciples by our love one for another. John
13:35 http://biblehub.com/john/13-35.htm We are to bear one another’s burden and so
fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. 6:2 http://biblehub.com/galatians/6-2.htm
It is said that idle hands are the devils
workshop. When we are idle then there is inertia. We are more vulnerable to the
temptations to sin with our thoughts, words and deeds.
I have found that the best antidote for
depression, lust and lethargy is to get busy with my hands serving others in
the name of Jesus. I find constructive, productive and creative ways to
communicate the truth in love. Ephesians 4:15 http://biblehub.com/ephesians/4-15.htm And for me that usually involves researching,
planning, organizing, writing and publishing. Those activities fit my
personality, spiritual gifts, passions, budget, schedule, calling and more.
FEET
The head, heart and hands are in the human body.
And at the bottom of the body are the feet. The feet transport the rest of the
person. If the person is in the church on Sunday then the feet were involved to
get them there. If a person goes on a short term mission trip then the feet
were involved to get them there. If a person just stays at home and does not
participate in feeding their soul with biblical food nor taking the love of God
to others in the forms of ministry, then the feet were involved to keep them
there.
The reality is that most people are always busy. It
often seems that there is too much to do and not enough time. There are far
more appealing options to occupy their time than there are hours in the week.
Therefore in order to grow in Christ and the knowledge of Him 2 Peter 3:18 http://biblehub.com/2_peter/3-18.htm it
requires making the intakes and expressions of biblical Christianity a high
priority. Then the feet will carry the rest of the body to the green spiritual
pastures where the head, heart and hands will function.
Feet also relates to direction. A person cannot
walk both eastward and westward at the same time. If a person invests most of
their evenings and weekends watching TV then that is direction their feet were
pointed. If another person attends a Bible study group each week and goes with
others on a community outreach one time a month then that is the direction
their feet were pointing.
Feet relates to the long term impact that a
person has and how that effects eternity. The lifetime of the oldest person is
super brief contrasted to eternity. The Bible says that we are citizens of
heaven Philippians 1:27 http://biblehub.com/philippians/1-27.htm . That is our homeland. We are just passing
through this temporal realm as spiritual pilgrims.
Consider how most people invest lots of time and
energy in planning a vacation, developing a career, buying a home and planning
for retirement. In that context it would seem wise to also invest time and
energy into developing a vision plus game plan for long term personal lay
ministry. This can happen by using much prayer and lots of probing
conversations with key people to find your niche. And then use your feet to discover
and develop your unique niche in the body of Christ where you will bear much
fruit for the glory of God.
Let
us recall that the whole armor of God includes to shod the feet with the readiness
to share the gospel. Ephesians 6:15 http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-15.htm
So the Word of God exhorts us to get ready so we will share the Good News. We
are ambassadors of Christ with the message of reconciliation 2 Corinthians
5:19 http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/5-19.htm
The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the Great
Commission that starts with the word ‘go’. We are to go make disciples for Him
Matthew 28:19 http://biblehub.com/matthew/28-19.htm
Jesus Christ said that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Matt 4:13 http://biblehub.com/matthew/5-13.htm
These passages relate to how God has ordained that we serve as His torch
bearers in this fallen world. We are to take the light of the gospel message,
the love of God and our Christ like character to serve as a beacon that dispels
the spiritual darkness. Then others will encounter the grace and goodness of
God in our words and deeds. They may ask questions so that we can share our
testimony and His Word. Little by little they will come to know, trust and love
God like we do. All of that involves the uses of our feet during ordinary daily
activities as well as special events where we work together with fellow
Christians. Then the we will be instruments of His grace and peace. This will
put us in the position to fulfill the verse how beautiful are the feet that
bring the gospel. Romans 10:15 http://biblehub.com/romans/10-15.htm
CONCLUSION
This
passing world offers many ways to lure us away from following Jesus Christ by
faith daily on the narrow road. There are hundreds of temptations to attract
our attention and affection. We all have the three invisible enemies of the
world, the flesh and the devil. These seek to entangled us in their webs of
deceit, lies and sins. But God knew the issues we would face long before we
were born. God did not leave us without suitable spiritual resources to address
each challenge.
God loves us so much that He gave us His Word. In
the Scriptures we learned that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus is Lord.
He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and reveals God the Father to us. The
Word of God contains many precious messages. These messages include the gospel
of salvation. And there is much more to biblical Christianity than getting born
again, attending church and personal prayer.
We were not saved to just wait until we die so we
will go to heaven. There are many Bible passages related to the uses of each of
the four: head, heart, hands and feet. In order to find a balanced spiritual
life it is essential to understand and apply the verses related to each one.
It
is easy to remain inside the comfort zones. Most Christians I have known over
the decades are content to allow the standards of those they know personally
set a low standard of acceptable Christian behavior. They have rarely been
challenged to embrace the whole counsel God’s Word. That takes humility, faith
and courage to be shaped by the Scriptures.
But pay attention to the exhortation in Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed
to the ways of this world. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. http://biblehub.com/romans/12-2.htm
During the last 4 decades as a Christian I have
learned the hard way that I will give an account to the Lord Jesus Christ for
the stewardship of my life. He will evaluate me based on the many clear and
simple guidelines in His Word. I know that just because the Bible verse is
simple to understand that does not mean that it is easy to apply. Therefore I
must look to Him for grace and mercy. Plus I need to seek the support of fellow
Christians along this pilgrim path.
We are all flawed humans and we live in a world
system that is not always fair. There is pain, suffering and injustice all
around us. There are hurts and hardships we will encounter. Each of us has
special talents and spiritual gifts to offer in service of others. We have been
bountifully blessed to have been born into this country where we have religious
freedoms. We have born into an industrialized country and phase of world
history when there is enough food, shelter, medicine, transportation and other
real needs. Mostly our concerns revolve around our wants, comforts,
conveniences, entertainment, pleasures, relationships and more.
God has not changed and His Word has not changed.
If we come to the scriptures with humility, open mindedness and a willingness
to obey then we will find that the Word has much to say about how we are to conduct
our lives in order to best please God.
The 4 perspectives of the head, heart, hands and
feet is a useful tool in understanding and applying the Word of God.
