The Question

Series on “I am Joe’s Favorite Verses”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 

[Many years ago, there used to be articles in the Reader’s Digest titled “I am Joe’s ___” with the blank being filled with a body part or organ. Over the years, I’ve written down verses that are meaningful to me on 3x5 cards. In this series we’ll be looking at some of my favorite verses. In other words, “I am Joe’s Favorite Verses”.]

  

One of my favorite songs from the Broadway musical Rent is “Seasons of Love”. The chorus asks an interesting question.  

Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

 

Following this, the song rhetorically asks the question again by suggesting a number of different ways that you could measure a year: in daylight, in sunsets, in midnight, in cups of coffee, in inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife? But the question remains unanswered. How do you measure a year?

 

You might think that Paul measured a year by the number of people that he led to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Or possibly the number of churches that he started. The truth is, that when he went to Macedonia on his second missionary trip, he got kicked out of more towns than not. On the surface, he looked like a failure.

 

Despite this, Paul persevered. Even in the midst of heavy persecution, he shared the love of Christ. He truly loved the people. In fact, his first letter to the church at Thessalonica is filled with statements that reflect just how much he loved them.

 

^7b Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, ⁸ so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ¹² encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.    NIV    1 Thessalonians 2

 

Even in the opening statement of Paul’s letter, he describes how much he cared for them. He mentions their faith, love and hope… three characteristics that Paul built into their lives while living with them.

 

² We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, ³ remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ESV 1 Thessalonians 1

 

The foundation of any relationship is communication. The same was true for the Thessalonians relationship with God. Therefore, Paul emphasized the importance of staying in constant communication with God. It’s an outgrowth of their love for him.

  

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.         NIV    1 Thessalonians 5

 

In the song “Seasons of Love”, the conclusion is that you measure your life in love. So, the question is – how do you measure your life? Paul prays the following prayer for the Thessalonians. It gives a pretty good answer.

 

¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³ May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.          NIV  1 Thessalonians 3

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

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How Do You Measure a Year?

 

John 15:1-17

 

“How do you measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In 525,600 minutes -

how do you measure a year in the life?

How about love?”

 

These are the opening lyrics from the song, “Season of Love” from the play Rent. Ultimately, this song is asking how we use our time; our talents; our treasure. How do we find purpose and meaning in our life?

 

In some ways, these lyrics parallel Jesus’ words in today’s passage. “I am the vine; you

are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”  Jesus is calling us to bear fruit. He is calling us to invest our lives in those around us. And he is asking us how we will measure our fruit.

 

But life can be long and difficult at times. It is hard to invest in others all the time. People are so frustrating. Jesus gives us a hint of how to be consistent in bearing fruit. “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

 

To use another metaphor, bearing fruit is not an individual sport. It’s a team sport. A player on a team needs to listen to the coach, do what they say; not just to get playing time, but to be a better player, to help the team win. To produce fruit we must remain in the vine.

 

To bear fruit doesn’t require you to be a pastor or a missionary. As my pastor says each week, “We are all ministers”. We are ministers not just when we do church activities, but at work, at home, driving in the car, talking to the neighbor or even going through the drive through at McDonalds.

 

“525,600 minutes!

525,000 journeys to plan.

525,600 minutes.

How can you measure the life of a woman or man?”

 

That’s a lot of minutes to do something with. What will you do with your minutes this year, or today for that matter? How do you measure a year in your life?