The Best Valentine's Gift

Sometimes I wonder what Valentine would think of Valentine’s Day. He was, after all, a saint. He performed underground marriage ceremonies when they had been outlawed by the Roman government. He knew that marriage between a man and woman was God’s design. The commercial nature and cupid focus that it has become would probably not sit well with him.

I have no problem with the red hearts, flowers, candy, jewelry that go along with the 14th of February. I just have never spent much money on it. My wife needs my love and romance year-round. I think the holiday can also be painful for those who are widowed, divorced, or otherwise alone. So, as a public service, I will offer advice on the world’s best Valentine’s gift. The good news for frugal folks like me is that the price is right. It will not cost you a thing…or will it?

It may not be difficult to guess what the best Valentine’s gift would be. God started it since it was his idea and perfectly describes his character. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). You were right. It is all about love. As you know, there are three types of love in the Bible. One is the romantic/passionate kind (see Valentine’s commercials). The second is family or brotherly love like you would find on the streets of Philadelphia (maybe). The third and most challenging is the committed, sacrificial, unconditional kind that God models for us.

Romance is not for everyone. Non-Christians can show brotherly love easily. Buy as we think of the people we interact with on a regular basis, it may be good to ask ourselves if they feel that we love them. Love goes beyond good feelings and intentions. Biblical love takes action. It sees needs and seeks to sacrificially meet them. It is doing what is best for another.

Let us look at a few passages that may help us consider if we are giving others the best gift. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35). The context is the last supper, and the command is new in that it is a special love for other believers based on the sacrificial love of Jesus. As Jesus represented God’s love, so should each disciple represent Jesus’ love. The Life Application Bible puts it well: “How can we love others as Jesus loves us? By helping when it is not convenient, by giving when it hurts, by devoting energy to others’ welfare rather than our own, by absorbing hurts from others without complaining or fighting back. This kind of love is hard to do. That is why people notice when you do it, and you know you are empowered by a supernatural source.” Jesus loves without reservation or limit and expects us to do the same.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. This is my command: Love each other (John 15:12-13; 17). Jesus literally laid down his life. He commands us to love others sacrificially. It is a command because it does not come naturally for us. What are we willing to do for our family and friends? I can’t expect a family member to love and care for me without doing the same for them! We grow by caring for and nurturing each other. The next passage indicates that if we really practice this, other issues will fall into place.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law (Roman 13:8-10).

Paul is not prohibiting the proper use of credit. He’s talking about the perfect gift that we are always obligated to give: expressing Divine love in all interpersonal relationships. A Christian should never fall short in loving others. We always owe love. The essence of the law is not merely conformity to the rules, but love. Love does no harm. Pastor Warren Weirsbe stated, “When we practice love there is no need for any other laws because love covers it all. If we love others, we will not sin against them. We don’t live under law, but grace. Our motive for obeying God and helping others is the love of God in our hearts.” How do we have the love of God in our hearts? We love each other because He first loved us. The next few verses will help explain that.

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10). Mutual love among Christians is a vital quality. We’ve been taught by God through the Holy Spirit. What a great teacher! Keep on loving. Ask God to open doors. God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us (Romans 5:5).

Growing spiritually goes hand in hand with growing in our love. We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing (2 Thessalonians 1.3). We can make an effort and practice love more and more. Love should have consistency and persistence. It is easy to say we will pray for someone. That is a loving thing to do. However, maybe there is an action step to take after we pray that corresponds to their need. Agape love treats others as God would treat them, regardless of feelings or personal preferences.

We are to love sincerely and deeply. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart (1 Peter 1:22). Here is another command to love. Being purified from sin enables us to show genuine love for others. Yet this love is not a foregone conclusion, so it is commanded. Sincere means without hypocrisy. Deeply means at full stretch or in an all-out manner with intense strain. Think of a wide receiver or outfielder laying out to make a difficult catch. Deep love has pure motives and seeks to give more than it takes. Living like Christ means we will love one another. Because God is love, close connection with Him will produce love. The command to love has its origin in the nature of God. Loving one another is an expression of true faith.

Consider your own gift of being loving. God’s love shows itself through action. Does yours? God’s love is devoted to others welfare. Is yours? God loves without limit. Do you? God’s love never gives up. Does yours? God loves deeply or at full stretch. Do you? God loves with pure motives. Do you? God’s love forgives. Does yours? The gift of love is free but comes at a cost. Be like the Lord and love like crazy. Saint Valentine would love that!