The Top Side of Our Souls
To be a well-rounded Christian, it is essential to balance the 'active' and 'mystic' lives, serving both God and humanity.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of balancing the active and contemplative aspects of the Christian life, using the story of Martha and Mary to illustrate this point. He notes that while Christians are often engaged in practical tasks and responsibilities, they must not neglect the 'top side' of their souls, which involves prayer, meditation, and communion with God. Tozer warns against the current trend of prioritizing action over spiritual depth, urging believers to cultivate their inner lives to maintain a healthy relationship with God. He calls for a return to the mystical side of faith, where true devotion and understanding of God can flourish. The prayer for balance in life reflects the need for both service to others and spiritual nourishment.
Text
And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." --Luke 10:41-42
...every real Christian, however practical, is in some degree a mystic, his mysticism lying on the upper side of his life. He prays, meditates on spiritual things and communes with God and the invisible world. Also, every Christian, however he may be dedicated to the holy art of prayer and worship, must of necessity descend to work and eat and sleep and pay his taxes and get on somehow with the hard world around him. And if he follows on to know the Lord he must serve in every useful way outlined for him in the Scriptures of truth. To be a Christian it is necessary that he serve his generation as well as his God.
The big problem is to keep the two elements of the Christian life in proper balance. Martha and Mary are sisters and we need both.... Today the Christian emphasis falls heavily on the "active" life.... The current vogue favors "Christian action." The favorite brand of Christianity is that sparked by the man in a hurry, hard hitting, aggressive and ready with the neat quip. We are neglecting the top side of our souls. The light in the tower burns dimly while we hurry about the grounds below, making a great racket and giving the impression of wonderful devotion to our task. The Price of Neglect, 45-47.
"Lord, help me to keep the proper balance. Help me especially to cultivate the top side of my soul. Amen."
Sermon Outline
- I. The Two Elements of the Christian Life
- A. The 'active' life: serving God and humanity
- B. The 'mystic' life: communing with God and the invisible world
- II. The Problem of Balance
- A. The current emphasis on 'Christian action'
- B. The neglect of the 'top side' of the soul
- III. The Importance of Balance
- A. Serving both God and humanity
- B. Cultivating the 'top side' of the soul
Key Quotes
“But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” — A.W. Tozer
“The light in the tower burns dimly while we hurry about the grounds below, making a great racket and giving the impression of wonderful devotion to our task.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must make time for spiritual growth and communion with God in our busy lives.
- A balanced Christian life involves serving both God and humanity.
- We should prioritize cultivating the 'top side' of our souls through prayer, meditation, and communion with God.