The origins of Valentine’s Day are fabled and famous. A bishop by the name of Valentinus constantly preached the gospel of Jesus Christ in central Italy in the third century AD. As the story goes, once he was imprisoned for his faith, and judge (Asterius), responsible for Valentinus’ imprisonment, tested his message and faith by challenging him to heal his blind daughter. He obliged and his daughter was healed and her sight restored. In response, the judge destroyed all his household idols, released all the Christian inmates and was baptized.
Valentinus was later arrested for preaching the gospel and was sent to Rome, where he was questioned by the Roman emperor Claudius Gothicus himself. Claudius condemned him to death and he was executed on February 14th, 269 AD. Shortly before his beheading Valentinus reportedly wrote a letter to judge Asterius’ daughter and signed it, “Your Valentine.” Also, legend has it that Valentinus would secretly officiate weddings for Christian soldiers so that the new husbands would not have to go to war. He is said to have reminded them of their Christian duty to God and their spouses by sending them red hearts made of parchment. Some of Valentine’s Day traditions stem from these three things.
While parts of this story might be more myth than true legend, Valentinus was a real person who lived his life practicing mercy and love for God’s people everywhere he went. Even his name, Valentinus, means “containing valor” and “courageous, worthy, strong.” So here we see the selfless, sacrificial love of one brave person literally influenced and transformed the world. What could be possible if every Christ-follower selflessly loved others the way Valentinus did?
And aside from the life of Valentine, what if Christ-followers practiced caring for others selflessly and sacrificially the way scripture directs us? Paul writes in Philippians 2: 2-4 “…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 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.”
Whether single, divorced, engaged or married, we can and should practice loving others like Paul describes. We should value others above ourselves and look at the interest of others as more important than our own.
Don’t wait until you have a date, or Valentine’s day, or get married to start practicing Christlike, selfless love. Start now! Find a friend of the same gender or opposite gender and practice loving them the way Christ loves us. And let your motivation be only their best interest, not self serving. And if you’re married, don’t see Valentine’s day as simply a chance to score points with your spouse for sexual reasons, but see it as a reminder of how we should live year round, loving your spouse and children the way Christ loves you.
Try This: Look for one way to help a friend that requires your time, effort and energy. It could be helping them fix their car, clean their house, give them a ride somewhere, or provide a meal for them.
Comments