January 5, 2015
More Important Than Mine
Last month, I was honored to officiate another wedding ceremony for a friend. It was the kind of wedding ceremony that includes personal comments by the officiant. I got to thinking about the topic of “love,” and my thoughts went to one of the things I really enjoy about Facebook. I enjoy all those videos and stories about people caring for perfect strangers and rescuing hurting animals. They are usually introduced by tag lines such as, “faith in humanity restored!” These videos and stories show our better side and reveal our amazing capacity to love freely, sacrificially, and generously. People of all faiths and walks of life can be seen sacrificing their time and money for others. Truck drivers stop in busy traffic to help an invalid who has fallen, brave souls display heroic feats to help an animal in need, and spouses center their entire lives around caring for a sick or dying loved one.
Indeed, we humans are capable of such great love. I am often inspired and humbled by what I see, and yes, my faith in humanity is restored. So, if we humans display such beautiful love, what makes the love of God any different — or better? Do we even need God if we already have such great generosity within us? As I prepared for this wedding, this question confronted me anew, and I struggled to clearly identify the difference between the best of human love and God’s love. I thought about what Jesus taught and modeled, and the difference started to emerge for me. And, since we love to summarize the complex in simple statements, I came up with this phrase to describe this difference in the ways we love and the ways Jesus loved:
“Your life is more important than mine.”
This statement might take your thoughts to the sacrifice of the cross, what Jesus described as the greatest love (John 15:13). Jesus actually chose to die so we could live. For him, our lives were more important than his.
Or, you might think about the words of the Apostle Paul, who wrote:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV)
“Value others above yourselves.” It seems Paul also believed,
“Your life is more important than mine.”
Or, you might think of Jesus’ words when he was asked to summarize the teaching of the scriptures:
“…’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV)
That one seems to put “other centeredness” as our first calling.
And the one that really hits me hardest is how Jesus opens his manifesto called, “The Sermon on the Plain:”
“…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:27-31 NIV)
This one “slaps me on the cheek!” Does it really say love trumps my rights, love trumps my reputation, love trumps my money, love trumps my property, and love trumps my comfort? I may not die on a cross for another person, but these words rock my world. I have no choice but to conclude,
“Your life is more important than mine.”
So is God’s love different? Is God’s love better? I think so. God’s love does not call me to moments of generosity or heroism, no, God’s love calls me to a lifestyle of seeing every other person who crosses my path and knowing deeply, humbly and personally,
“Your life is more important than mine.”
I am called to believe my very best life is found in this kind of love. I am called to believe my very best life isn’t found in my house, my stuff, my comfort, my safety or the activities I enjoy the most. I am called to risk it all on the promise this kind of love will deliver my deepest contentment and satisfaction. I am called to believe this kind of love is the only and best solution to our deeply hurting world.
What if every Christian in every church lived this kind of radical abandonment of caring for ourselves in favor of radically and unequivocally saying to everyone in their lives, “your life is more important than mine?” What might happen? What would Christians be known for? Might we be viewed as a group worth joining instead of a group of bigoted hall monitors? Can you imagine it: millions of people across the world known by their radical commitment to the welfare of others?
How about you? What if you were to risk it all for loving God’s way? There might not be a video on Facebook about you, but I think you might find this thing called, “abundant life” (John 10:10). It’s not hard to start. Look at your spouse, a family member, a friend or a coworker and say to yourself,
“Your life is more important than mine.”