Does God have anything to do with Valentine's Day?
Like a lily among thistles is my darling among young women. Like the finest apple tree in the orchard is my lover among other young men. Song of Songs 2:2–3 (NLT)
The coming week Valentine’s Day will be observed in many nations around the world. The day is named after one or several Christian martyrs with the name Valentine. Now it is, however, celebrated as a day of romance. Inviting your chosen one for a romantic dinner is a common treat. In parts of the world, romance and sex is seen as synonyms, and some may hope that the romantic evening that usually starts with a good meal, will end in bed.
Christian ethics has, both today and in history, been seen as an obstacle to free, sexual pleasure. As a result, God has been viewed as being against romance and sexual satisfaction.
Nothing could be more wrong.
The first command God gives to people is to “be fruitful and increase in number” (Genesis 2:28, NLT). The Bible contains lots of romantic stories. The Song of Songs has stood out as exceptional, romantic poetry throughout generations. The whole book is fertile with imagery of gender polarity and sexual attraction and pleasure. So, God is not against good sex. He created it.
As with many things in creation, God did however also give us good limits to operate within. Rules are often seen as boundaries for freedom. The same applies to the ten commandments given in Exodus 20. We must however not skip the first part of these commandments where God introduces himself as the one who leads out of slavery. God wants us to be free, and when we operate within his limits, we will keep our freedom.
In our workplaces we meet many beautiful, clever, and smart people. It is natural that we can feel physically attracted to some of them. Many can however testify that following desires without limitations, eventually will lead to captivity. The Bible is clear that God wants the sexual joy and fulfilment to be lived out within life-long, trustful relationships where seeking your spouse’s pleasure is more important than fulfilling your own desires.
Song of Songs in the Bible is not only beautiful, love-filled poetry. It is also seen as a book describing God’s love for us. A wedding celebration is for many of us the ultimate feast we can think of here on earth. Thus, God uses weddings as a picture of the feast he invites us to. In the same way, the Song of Songs, and the love it describes, pictures how God wants a close and intimate relationship with each one of us. His love is worth celebrating both on Valentine’s Day and all the remaining days of the year.
Challenge
Are you operating within God’s good limitations in your relationships to others? Are there things you need to work on or confess?
Pray
Dear God, Thanks you for creating gender polarity and physical attraction. Help me to celebrate this in a healthy way and within the good limits you have created.
Steinar Opheim
