Four Faces Of Love

The Four Faces of Love

Introduction:

Valentine - an amatory or sentimental card, token or gift sent by one person to another on St. Valentine’s Day; a sweetheart chosen on St. Valentine’s Day; the object of one’s affection.

St. Valentine - Valentinus -- Christian martyr, c270 A.D. --

"Valentine was the name of a young man who lived in Rome during reign of Claudius II when Christians were being persecuted. Although he was not a Christian, he helped them, but he was caught and put into prison. In prison he became a believer in Jesus. Because of this, Valentinus was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs, stoned and finally beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269. After his death, this gate was known as Porta Valentini.

While he was in prison he sent messages to his friends saying "Remember your Valentine!" and "I love you." -- Adapted from tract -- Faith Prayer & Tract League

I. The Face of Natural Affection. - Storge

"Affection of kindred especially of parents for children and children for parents."

1. Used only twice in the New Testament in negative form: w/o natural affection, astorgos

"And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. -- Romans 1:28-32

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. -- 2 Timothy 3:1-5

2. Natural Affection

One of my children was having one of those days when the person that they loved had abandoned them or made them unhappy.

She said, "Nobody, loves me!"

I said, "I love you!"

The reply, "You have to love me!

Why do I have to love you?

You’re my dad.

3. Without Natural Affection

We were having a kids promotion for McDonald’s at the Cross Keys Shopping Center McDonald’s store in Missouri. A lady came in with a child and I gave the child the token gift and then asked the lady - Do you have kids at home? Her reply, "Yes, unfortunately." When I pursued her answer and said certainly not she replied, "No, really I think that it is unfortunate. "

II. The Face of Friendship -- Philos -

"expectation of mutual sharing and receiving benefit from each other."

1. The Bear & The Travelers - Aesop

Two travelers were on the road together, when a bear suddenly appeared on the scene. Before he observed them, one made for a tree at the side of the road, and climbed up into the branches and hid there. The other was not so nimble as his companion; and, as he could not escape, he threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead.. The bear came up and sniffed all around him, but he kept perfectly still and held his breath; for they say that a bear will not touch a dead body. The bear took him for a corpse, and went away.

When the coast was clear, the traveler in the tree came down, and asked the other what it was the bear had whispered to him when he put his mouth to his ear. The other replied," He told me never again travel with a friend who deserts you at the first sign of danger." Misfortune tests the sincerity of friendship.

-- The Book of Virtues by Wm. J. Bennett

2. English equivalent is probably the word like.

Why do we like people? We have something in common and help meet each others needs. You have a gift or skill that complements mine that makes life more enjoyable.

III. The Face of Lust - Eros

- Base motive is possession of object loved, body mind and spirit, based primarily in one’s feelings and the gratification of the senses.

1. Never Used in the New Testament

2. Masterpiece Theatre’s Clarissa - virtuous women finally compromised by one man’s constant pursuit of an unholy alliance and when not getting permission forced his attentions upon her and then casts her aside no longer interested.