T-shirts have become mobile billboards for many ideas. Fans often announce to the world their love for a particular team, singer, or celebrity via t-shirt; one’s hobby or interest is advanced via t-shirt; popular corporations even convince brand name lovers to pay for t-shirts with the company’s logo emblazoned for all to see. Another avenue served in this way is that of the pithy statement for the reader to ponder. Recently, one of these caught my attention. It stated, “Do more of what your soul loves to do.” I don’t know the wearer’s intention; was this his life philosophy or simply a t-shirt he borrowed from his brother? Still, regardless of his motivation, the message is steeped in spirituality and worthy of consideration by those who serve the Lord.
Perhaps the best-known biblical linking of soul and love comes from the Lord’s reply when asked about the greatest command. He stated, “You shall love the Lord with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). The differences in heart, soul, and mind have been debated for centuries; however, there is likely very little daylight between their definitions. Simply put, it is loving God with every facet of your being. Soul, in its biblical usage, indicates who you truly are; it is your identity. Thus, for the true follower of God who wants to take the t-shirt slogan to heart, drawing closer by loving Him more every day is the means of doing what the soul loves to do. This is borne out in the book of Deuteronomy, from which the Lord quoted in answering the question. Five times within the book, loving service to God is referenced by serving God with one’s soul.
The second highest concentration of the love-soul connection is found in Song of Solomon. Five times within this book reflecting God’s hearty endorsement of romantic love, the leading lady calls her man “him whom my soul loves.” In the series of poems that constitute the book, various relational scenarios are explored and in each of them, the man and woman display what God wanted from the very beginning: a godly man and godly woman dedicated to one another. As they sought to follow the t-shirt wisdom, they did what their souls loved by seeking to build a love that certainly involved romance yet was built on the foundation of mutual godly respect.
Coming in third place in the soul-love link is another relationship; however, this one dealt with a deep friendship that transcended family loyalties. As David was brought into the house of Saul, he became inseparable friends with Saul’s son Jonathan. As Saul slipped further into ungodliness and paranoia, he sought to kill David in a vain attempt to thwart the promise that the kingdom would be taken from Saul’s house and given to the young musician and soldier. It was Jonathan who worked to save his friend from his father’s diabolical scheme. Three times within the text, the writer of I Samuel states that Jonathan loved David as he loved his own soul. As Jonathan sought to “do more of what your soul loves to do,” he worked for his friend’s welfare, not only out of devotion to him but also in recognition that this was the plan of God (see I Samuel 23:17).
Putting all of this together, return to the scene where the Lord was asked to identify the greatest command. He stated, ““You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). What, then, the soul should love doing is being about the business of God and humanity. With fierce love, dedication is given to accomplishing God’s plan through faithful adherence to what He has deemed as right. Far from simply checking boxes, the soul that truly loves Him sees the value and wisdom of every command as each seeks to make one more like God. Worship is never lackluster; it is the expressive means of conveying love. Bible study is never passed over; it is how to learn more about the object of the soul’s affection.
This godly love is then expressed in relationships. Husbands and wives value one another with the full intent to help the other become better. Friendships are prized, as loyalty seeks to overcome any obstacle to help a friend fulfill the godly purpose he or she has been given. Doing what the soul loves to do is always the pursuit of putting others before self; it is imitating the steadfast love first seen in God’s relationship with His human children.
Doing what our souls love to do must be more than a t-shirt slogan; it must be the very essence of who we are and what we do, both in relation with God and humanity. May we commit our souls to pursuit of the greatest command and, in so doing, imitate the love seen in our Lord.
