Valentine’s Day, celebrated this Friday in many countries around the world, is traditionally a time for expressions of affection to those we love.

But it may surprise you to hear that the legends of Saint Valentine give hints of how business can be used to show love for God and others.1

Saint Valentine and the Redemptive Power of Our Work

Although the true history of the person we call Saint Valentine is uncertain, legends surrounding him suggest ways that he used his work to bring healing, restoration, and justice—key elements of redemptive work.

One legend describes Valentine as both a priest and a beekeeper. Beyond producing honey, he recognized the power of God’s creation to bring both physical and spiritual healing. It is said that he used honey’s medicinal properties to aid a young girl with vision impairment, demonstrating how even seemingly ordinary work — like tending bees — can be a means of blessing and restoration. His story reminds us that redemptive work often takes place in the small, faithful acts of service we do through our businesses.

Another story highlights an ethical challenge Valentine faced. In the third century, Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men, believing it weakened his army. Valentine saw this decree as unjust and continued performing marriages in secret, prioritizing the well-being of others over his safety. This act of defiance was not merely about romance; Valentine was demonstrating confidence in his conviction regarding God’s good design of marriage. In the same way, missional entrepreneurs often encounter ethical crossroads where they must choose whether to follow the world’s ways or remain faithful to biblical principles in their businesses.

While Valentine is mostly associated with love and romance today, his story illustrates a deeper truth: redemptive work happens in unexpected places. Whether through beekeeping or standing for justice, his example challenges us to ask: How can our daily work — no matter how ordinary or difficult — be used to heal, restore, and reflect God’s kingdom?

Verse(s) of the Week:

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39 ESV

Our mandate to Make a Difference in missional enterprise flows from Jesus’s command to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Let’s ask God for increased strength to express his love through the enterprises we steward.