He might ask the same of you
(Kendall Payne)
He gave us plenty, plenty to share, and the good sense to know what’s fair.
He gave us power, the knowledge of right. He gave us strength to brave a fight.

So we have no excuse and no defense.
There is not one that can plead innocent.
We have a shameful state of tolerance.

So you pray to God asking Him to intervene,
To set it right, to stand up for the weak and the unseen.
And still you pray to God ask Him what He’s gonna do?
But He might ask the same of you.

He gave us riches, more than enough to fill both hearts and hunger up.
He gave us Jesus who died to proclaim, “As you have seen in me do the same”.

We are all connected,
We are all affected,
When one loves their brothers,
There’s no “us” and “others”.

So we pray to God with our days from dust to dust.
Is there a better world to have? It seems there must be.
And still we pray to God, when will He make it just?
But He might ask the same of us.
Yes, He might ask the same of us

“It was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.  May that be truly said of us.” (Dickens, A Christmas Carol) 

^“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) 

This final passage reminded me of the verse above in Acts.  Dickens said that all who saw Scrooge commented that he “knew how to keep Christmas well…may that be truly said of us.”  Those who saw Peter and John, astonished by their transformation, said “these men had been with Jesus.”  This is one of my favorite verses.  The one thing the people who saw them said was that those men had been with Jesus.  In the words of Dickens, “May that be truly said of us.”  Merry Christmas.

“I don’t know what to do!” cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath… “I am as light as feather, I am happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy.  I am giddy as a drunken man.  Merry Christmas to everybody!”…He went to church, and walked about the streets and watched the people hurrying to and fro, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of houses, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure.  He had never dreamed that any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness.” (Dickens, A Christmas Carol)  ^“Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” (Ps. 51:12) 

^“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17)   

The change in Scrooge is inspirational.  He transforms overnight (literally in his case).  The picture should challenge us Christians to reflect upon our own transformation.  When we were converted, Paul explains that the old has gone the new has come!  In a matter of speaking, we were “Scrooges” transformed by the power of Christ’s blood.  What joy and happiness is found in all the small details of life when the “joy of our salvation” is remembered.  The year’s end always causes one to reflect upon the days past.  Do find yourself saying “I am as light as feather, I am happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy.  I am giddy as a drunken man”?  Surely one set free from sin and death has reason to be?  Or, as with David, does the weight of sin and the worries of life cause you to plead “restore unto me the joy of my salvation”?  Either way, let all of God’s people rejoice in the coming of our Lord and Savior this Christmas.

“The Ghost of Christmas Present rose.“Spirit,” said Scrooge submissively, “conduct me where you will.  I went forth last night on compulsion, and I learned a lesson which is working now.  Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.”“Touch my robe!”Scrooge did as he was told, and held it fast. (Dickens, A Christmas Carol) 

“Ghost of the Future!” he exclaimed, “I fear you more than any specter I have seen.  But I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company and do it with a thankful heart.” (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol.)

 “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.” (Prov. 3:13-18) 

^“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:11)

There has been a transformation in Scrooge.  His heart has changed.  He has born the “pain” and discomfort of discipline, but is better for it.  His heart begins to seek a new sort of profit—the profit of wisdom.  Scrooge now seeks the revenue of redemption in the hope of “living to be another man from what I was.”  The moment a man’s heart realizes that not only does he need to be taught but also needs to be changed—he is ready for Christ.  This is not only a lesson for unbelievers, but also even the wisest member of the Church.  We must be teachable and ready to change for the glory of the Father.  We must be constant attendees in wisdom’s school of discipline.  We must seek the profit that is a “tree of life to those who embrace her.”  Those who learn this lesson “will be blessed.”

“I am sure he is very rich, Fred,” hinted Scrooge’s niece… “What of that, my dear?” said Scrooge’s nephew.  “His wealth is of no use to him.  He doesn’t do any good with it…I am sorry for him:  I couldn’t be angry with him if I tried.  Who suffers by his ill whims? Himself, always.” (Dickens, A Christmas Carol)  

^“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.  I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner.” (Eccl. 5:10,13) 

“His prosperity does not endure.  In the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped.” (Job 20:21-23)

Scrooge’s nephew shows up in the story once again with a unique perspective of wisdom and insight.  Throughout the story he seems to be able to see through Scrooge’s cantankerous demeanor.  Solomon had a similar ability to “see through” the actions of men.  The words: “wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner” are reminiscent of the nephew’s commentary: “Who suffers by his ill whims?  Himself, always.”  The greedy, covetous, and self-seeking man injures himself far more than any other.  Sure, those around him suffer from his discontent, displeasure, and general aura of orneriness, but the true victim of greed and selfishness is self.  Talk time this holiday season to reflect on the idea:  Is any of my lack of satisfaction self-inflicted?  What is the source of my dissappointment?  All has been given in Christ.  Let us make much of Him this holiday season.

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.