“Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. This is the first and great commandment.” Matthew 22:37
Valentine’s Day originated as a feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine and was called
the “Feast of Saint Valentine.” The day became associated with romantic love in the 14 th and 15 th centuries, in part by association with the “lovebirds” of early spring. In 18 th century England, it grew into an occasion for couples to express their love for each other by presenting flowers, candy, and sending greeting cards known as “valentines.” In the 19 th century, handmade cards gave way to mass-produced greetings. Today, at least in this country, it is most generally regarded as a commercial celebration of romance and love.
Earthly love between a man and a woman is honored according to the scriptures. In both the Old and New Testaments we are told a man should leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. Hebrews tells us that marriage is honorable in all. Ephesians tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and wives to submit themselves unto their own husbands. Even so, loving God should be foremost in our lives. Heart, soul, and mind aren’t meant as separate categories. We are to love and obey God with our entire being. First John 4:8 tell us: “He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.” We learn in First Corinthians that “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude…Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (ESV)
The second part of the “first and great commandment” quoted above is: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” These two commands encapsulate the entire covenant made between God and his people. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (substitute) for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (First John 4:10-11). The way we love others is a testament to how we love God. We are to resist revenge and retaliation. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor” (Romans 13:10). Christ tells us: ”Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate our enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies…” (Matthew 5:43-44). We are to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
We can show our love to our parents, children, spouses, our friends, and relatives by telling
them of our love (Be My Valentine!) or sending valentine cards. Maybe even by giving flowers or candy or other gifts of love. So how do we show our love for God? “Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (First John 3:18). We demonstrate our love for God when we adjust our expectations to align with his will, rather than hanging tenaciously to our own. “This is love, that we walk after his commandments” (Second John 1:6). We love God when we choose to obey despite our fear, and trust God’s power to make the way, because “perfect love casteth out fear” (First John 4:18). We demonstrate our love, by pursuing one main goal: “do all to the glory of God” (First Corinthians 10:31). May God help us to set aside our own desires and agendas and seek to glorify only Him by our lives, to live for Him alone.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” 1 John 2:15.