How do you measure your life?

Recently I was able to see the stage production of Rent. This play took Broadway by storm in the late 90’s - challenging how people viewed the AIDS epidemic and giving the world a challenge that we should not be quick to forget. The play’s creator, Jonathan Larson, died tragically before the show’s opening making his now famous theme “no day but today” even more poignant.

The story follows the struggles of young artists in New York City struggling through a life affected by AIDS and the ever encroaching yuppie upper middle class mentality. The characters represent a collection of people from all areas of life, from a recovering musician facing the death sentence of AIDS related to his drug use to homosexual drag queen facing the same sentences related a promiscuous past. The story’s depth challenges many preconceived notions but I believe the most important question posed is one that Christians (and all people) should be asking themselves every day: How do you measure your life?

Do you measure you life in your accomplishments, in your possessions, in your bank account or some other tangible source? Sadly, it seems that as Christians we are not that different from the culture around us, we find our worth in what we have. Be it our big cars, tv’s or Church buildings, we are striving for the same sense of American prosperity as those around us. We even have an entire branch of Christianity prompting “prosperity” - the idea that the more devout your faith, the better you will do financially; amazing how far we have come from Christ’s most basic teaching.

So how are we to measure our lives? I think Larson had a better grasp of the Gospel than many Christians (note, I have no clue where Larson’s faith was and do not claim to know if he were Christian or not) when he said in his song Season’s of Love -“measure your life in love.” As Jesus was preparing for his death he gave his disciples (and us) a very clear directive: love each other (John 15:17).

In John 15:9-17 Jesus clearly lays out the path of obedience, remain in love and remain in him. Not just love, but love as he loved (verse 12). So how did Jesus love? He loved sacrificially, giving of his life for ALL of us. He loved beyond peoples short comings (PETER), he invested his time in people (generally the people popular culture ignores), he taught of God’s love with truth and compassion not with hate and condemnation.

Jesus often uses imagery related to being a shepard when speaking of his ministry and the ministry we are to have. In John 10:1-18 he reminds us that sheep will follow the shepard because they know his voice, they trust him because they know him. This is a relationship built between the sheep and the shepard over time. The sheep must learn that the shepard will protect and provide for them. Sheep do not follow a shepard they do not know. You or I could not walk into a field of sheep and start yelling and expect them to follow us because we went to Shepard College (I think that is located somewhere in Iowa...). A good shepard puts the sheep first, provides, protects and feeds all the sheep, not just the ones with a Jesus fish branded on their back bumper! When Jesus was preparing to ascend to heaven he left the disciples with another commandment , one that is clearly an extension of his first, feed and take care of his flock (John 21:15-18).

We must feed and take care of his flock, it is a matter of obedience. If we wish to remain in Jesus, we must remain in love, a love that he modeled. Jesus always pointed to God and we should always point to Jesus. His message of love is ours to share, nothing else. People will only listen when we focus more on loving as we are commanded to, then on being right. Loving is a difficult and filthy endeavor. Loving means getting past what you disagree with, because what you think does not matter! Loving is dangerous because you may get hurt, worse yet loving may change how you see the world! Love is sacrifice, love is pain, love is confusing and exhausting-and love is our command. It is much easier to tell someone they are wrong and walk away then it is to see past what you don't know, understand or agree with and walk beside them.

Love is a relationship. It means really knowing and investing in people. Love is expressed in long talks over coffee, in a meal delivered in a time of need, listening to a struggle you don't understand with a compassionate ear, in time spent enjoying people for their many and varied gifts. Love is not picketing a clinic, blasting a group of people who live differently then you, removing your children from the public school system, or spending millions of dollars on a political agenda while people are starving and homeless.

When people experience the love of Christ through us they will be drawn to Him and Him saving grace. And that’s really the point isn’t it?

Regardless of what doctrine you want to hide behind clearly our lives will be measured in love. This was and is Jesus’ commandment, thank you Jonathan Larson for reminding us.