Ebenezer Scrooge and Christ (Part 4)

I wanted to do try to come up with some sort of “Christmas theme” for my December posts and came up with this idea.  I got an old copy of the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol .  I was amazed at the parallels to the gospel.  So join along with me as we look for Christ in Dickens’ story.  (If say you “hum-bug” to this sort of post, join back up with us in January for more “traditional” postings.)

Ebenezer’s love in youth: “All your other hopes have merged into the hope of being beyond the chance of its [the world’s] sordid reproach.  I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master passion, Gain, engrosses you.” (Dickens, A Christmas Carol) ^“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Tim. 6:9-10) “A man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” (2 Pet. 2:19) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21) 

The love of Ebenezer’s youth reveals a truth his own heart cannot see:  the man she used to know has faded into a distant memory.  Over time, Scrooge has become the caricature that history has preserved.  “Nobler aspirations fall off one by one” until “Gain” engrosses his life.  I love the similarity of this description with Paul’s letter to Timothy.  The love of money begins a longing, turns into a lust, and then ends with a love with which not even faith in God can compete.  Scrooge is a slave to his desire for gain.  The Bible clearly and consistently teaches of this reality.  The Bible does not call wealth, riches, or prosperity sin, but is quick to mention the tendency with which “Gain” can replace “God” in the hearts of men.  Let us remember the words of Christ:  “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  While some of us may in fact find ourselves prospering, increasing, and surrounded by success, our treasure must undoubtedly and unreservedly remain in the blood of Christ.