Valentine’s Day

February 10, 2008

Introduction


 

I’m sure that we are all aware that this Thursday is Valentine’s Day. It is a day which means a lot of different things to different people. If I could pick a symbol for Valentine’s Day, I’d pick the pretty red heart that many associate with Valentine’s Day.


 

Forty seven years ago, I asked Carolyn if she would “go steady” with me? She agreed, and you know the rest of the story.


 

Not everyone here this morning shares that story. Some have lost companions due to death or divorce. Some may have never met the special someone whom they loved, and who loved them.


 

But what is the history of this romantic day? The name comes from a man named Valentine who was a Catholic priest. He lived during the time of the Emperor Claudius who had banned marriage because he was trying to build up his army, and found that married men were very reluctant to join the army, so he banned marriage. Valentine secretly performed marriages, and was caught and imprisoned for doing that. He was executed February 14, 269 A.D., so Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the day he was killed.

Many young people supported Valentine in what he had done. One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit him in his cell. Sometimes they would sit and talk for hours. She helped him to keep his spirits up. She agreed that he did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day he was to die, he left his friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. He signed it, "Love from your Valentine." I guess you could say that was the first Valentine.

Well, technically, that’s the beginning of “Valentine’s Day,” but the real origin goes back much further than that. ‘And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."’ (Gen 2:18 NKJV) Then the record continues: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Gen 2:24 NKJV) So we have the home established as God’s first institution. He also gave great instructions as to how we should live with one another.

But what is it about Valentine’s Day that makes it so special? I would say it is all the great qualities of life that God has emphasized.

 

Body

 

I. He based our marriages on love.

  1. Paul addressed the husband wife relationship.

  1. As he addressed marriage while writing to the church at Ephesus.

Eph 5:25 NKJV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,


 

    1. As he addressed the home while writing to the church at Colossae.

    (Col 3:19 KJV) Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

  1. Paul described how love behaves.

    (1 Cor 13:4-7 NKJV) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; {5} does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; {6} does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; {7} bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

    (1 Cor 13:4-7 NASB) Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, {5} does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, {6} does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; {7} bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

  2. Paul described how we are to treat others in other passages as well.

(Eph 4:29-32 NKJV) Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. {30} And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. {31} Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. {32} And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

  1. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth -- Literally, rotten-- that which corrupts relationships

  2. “Let all bitterness, . . . be put away from you” -- Do not become bitter.

    (Col 3:19 NKJV) Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

  3. And be tenderhearted,

    II. Companionship is such an important part of God's plan.

    A. Solomon spoke of our need of companionship

    (Eccl 4:9-12 NKJV) Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. {10} For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. {11} Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? {12} Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

  1. Solomon spoke of the wonder of a man and a maid.

    (Prov 30:18-19 KJV) There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: {19} The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

  1. What is the beauty of Valentines Day?

A. It's all the good things we put into it.

B. These are the ideas of love, and God is love.

(1 John 4:7-8 NKJV) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. {8} He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

(John 13:35 NKJV) "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

  1. These verses apply to all men, not just our husbands or wives or sweethearts, but of all people we should show love and kindness for those who are closest to us.

  2. So as we approach Valentine's Day may we think on these things and be better.

(Phil 4:8 NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.

 

Conclusion

 

Is there something in your life that you need to make right with God?

If you are not a Christian, there is no better time to become one than right now.

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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