Valentine’s Day is only 11 days away and I am going to be studying I Corinthians 13 in my personal devos. So, I thought it might be a cool idea to share a thought on love everyday from now until the 14th from a biblical perspective.
This is not because I feel like Valentine’s Day is a secular “hallmark” holiday and I take pleasure in squishing it. In fact, I personally love Valentine’s Day. I see nothing wrong with a public celebration of love. The people who typically take the stance of anti-valentines are people who are either bitter because they are single, like to stick out and go against the flow, prefer to think too highly of themselves and look for ways to be better than the general public, or are just plain lazy and cheap so they are wiggling their way out of gifts. Other than the single people (who could still celebrate the love they have for family), I tend to look at the rest of the above described as pretty darn pathetic.
Newsflash:
- You are NOT unique to think this way, unfortunately there are a whole group of you.
- No one has ever been deemed special because they think they are smarter than everyone.
- If you are really so lazy as to skip for lack of motivation…I feel for your other half.
I love Valentine’s Day. Who cares if the “big corporations” are making money out of it? Do you fuss over buying Birthday cards too? And if you really do feel the need to shake your proverbial fist to “the man”, give homemade things or just spend special time together. It doesn’t have to be a lot, just enough to say to your loved one(s) “I love you enough to show it with XYZ.”
Sorry, got a little high on my soapbox there for a minute, back to I Corinthians 13.
1 Corinthians 13
1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
I love thinking about these three verses. Don’t you think it would be impressive if there was a person who could speak the language of the angels? or foretell the future? or unravel any mystery and understood every single fact? Not to mention that they had tremendous faith and could literally move entire mountains? Or wouldn’t your head be turned if someone gave up everything they had to those less fortunate? even their very body? I know that if I ever came across a person who could do any of these things they would definitely hold my attention and I would be quite impressed.
But God says that the language of angels would sound as nothing more than tinkling cymbal if you did not have love. And all those other impressive feats of the mind and body, “they would profit me nothing”. Nothing! Do you see the value that God places on love? You could use wealth to serve God or human strength or your mind but God says these are worth nothing if you fail to offer any love.
Now think of this in your daily life. How important does that promotion seem now? or that coveted time on your latest hobby? or even your good work at church or anywhere else for that matter?
If we have nothing else and if we can do nothing else, we MUST never fail to love and love freely. We have got to stop waiting for people to earn our affection and instead give others the kind of selfless love that we have been given through Christ. If I loved my husband this way faithfully, it wouldn’t matter if he did every single possible thing wrong that day, he still would be deserving of all my love. Not because he earned it, simply because it is the most important thing I can do in the eyes of my Father who I claim to serve so faithfully.
Wrapping it up, (sorry this got so long!) think about these verses as you go about your day today and offer love to those around you. Whether they stole your parking spot or treated you unfairly or missed the dirty laundry hamper for the bazillionth time. Maybe they don’t “deserve” it today, but neither did you when Christ gave His love toward us.
