Introduction. The loving care of God is a theme that runs all throughout the Old and New Testaments (cp. 1 Peter 5:7). But God’s care is not one dimensional. He cares both for us physically and spiritually; that is, He cares both for the body and the soul.
God Cares for the Body
When God decided to create man in Genesis 1:26-27, He immediately began to care for man. He gave man dominion over all living plants and animals (Genesis 1:28-30). This dominion was for the purpose of caring for the physical needs of man. God furthermore gave man the job of dressing the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15-16).
Just from the simple fact of God’s design of the human body, we can be assured that God cares for His physical creation (Psalm 139:14).
Life and work is a gift from God (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26; 3:12-13, 22; 5:18-19; 8:15; 9:7-9). We should enjoy it for what it is: God’s care for us. God allowed us to have occupations that we enjoy and from which we can take pleasure.
Perhaps the clearest passages in the scriptures which tell of God’s care for us are Matthew 6:25-34 and its parallel passage in Luke 12:22-34.
God Cares for the Soul
Just as God cares for the physical body, He cares for the soul as well. When Adam and Eve sinned, the Lord set in motion a plan that would result in the salvation of all mankind from sin (Genesis 3:14-15). It would, therefore, demonstrate God’s care for the soul.
God further stated the promise to Abraham when he was called from the land of Ur and was restated when he offered up Isaac (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:18). This promise was then traced through the seed of David in 2 Samuel 7:11-14. This was fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:16; Acts 3:25-26; Matthew 1:1, 18-25).
Jesus came as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world by becoming a propitiation for sin (John 1:29; Romans 3:23-26). The sacrifice threw wide open the doors of eternal life (John 3:16).
God also cares for the soul by giving us our brethren for edification and exhortation (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Romans 15:2). Certainly all of this should show to us that God abundantly cares and provides for our souls.
The greatest fear that all of us should have is toward God who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:4-5).
Conclusion. In Mark 4:38, during the midst of the storm, His disciples asked, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” The Lord demonstrated His care by rebuking the wind and sea. But He then asked His disciples, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” If you have the faith that God will care for you physically and spiritually, you can become a Christian. All it will take is your obedience to Christ. If you are a Christian and have sinned, God will restore you into a right relationship with Him and thereby caring for your soul if you will only confess those sins and repent of them.
