Grace …
Summary: What a word means depends to some extent on its context. The usage tells us what the author or speaker intends it to mean.
Before Paul begins his admonishment of the Galatian churches, he pauses for a moment to offer his traditional greeting:
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ …” (Galatians 1:3)
He begins with the word “Grace.” The Greek word he used is “cháris.” As is often the case with English words, Greek words can have many meanings. Understanding how a word was intended to be used requires context.
In the mid-nineteenth century, Charles Dickens wrote the now-famous Christmas classic, “A Christmas Carol.” In the story, an old man named Scrooge has devoted his life to the acquisition of money. Pursuing wealth, Scrooge turns his back on God and the love of others. In his quest for riches, he becomes the opposite of grace.
If grace would allow a poor widow extra time to make her mortgage payment, Scrooge would foreclose on the mortgage if she were one day late in paying.
If grace is a good employer who is interested in the welfare of those who work for him, Scrooge is a miser who makes his employee’s lives miserable and pays them as little as possible.
If grace is compassionate towards those who are hurting and in need, Scrooge is, by nature, indifferent when he isn’t outright angry at his fellow man.
Last of all, if grace takes pleasure in Christmas because it celebrates the birth of Christ with singing, laughter, joy, and giving gifts, Scrooge’s famous retort is, “Bah, Humbug!”
As you know from the story,* Scrooge is confronted by the ghost of his old partner, Marley, and three spirits who show him Christmas past, present, and future. All of them are grim reminders of a wasted life and a hopeless future. Scrooge, chastened by the reality of his situation and the prospect of eternity in hell, undergoes a dramatic change.
Wanting to change the course of his future and his fate, Scrooge dedicates his life to caring for others instead of squeezing them for nickels and dimes. At the end of the story, Scrooge learns how to give grace to his fellow humans. He gives gifts to those in need, he gives love and gifts to his family, and most touching of all, he gives generously to his employee Cratchit and his crippled son, Tiny Tim.
The whole story is wrapped up in the season of Christmas. Dickens uses his craft as a writer to illustrate what grace is and is not. God’s grace is infinitely greater than anything Scrooge could do. In God, we see patience, love, and gifts of all sorts all the time. God doesn’t owe us anything — quite the opposite. We owe him more than we could ever pay. Yet, instead of demanding payment as the old Scrooge would have done, God generously pays the bill himself — for you and me and everyone who turns to Jesus.
Application: Accept God’s gift of grace and share it with others.
Food for Thought: How does the reformed Scrooge illustrate God’s grace for us today?
You can read the story “A Christmas Carol” online for free here:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46/46-h/46-h.htm
I like the use of “A Christmas Carol” in describing grace. That was very creative and seasonally appropriate. Well done. I also think that you described how the story and the reformed Scrooge reveals God’s grace for us today. The fact that we can show His grace to others means that we have received it to begin with. Once we have experienced it, it changes us and allows the child of God to imitate their spiritual parent.
Thank you, Rich!
Your comment brings to mind the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35). He was sort of like a Scrooge who didn’t learn the lesson. In Dickens’ story, Scrooge becomes the servant of mercy and love.
A very thoughtful devotion today!
I think the story does illustrate God’s grace today in that Scrooge made decisions in His life that put him on a path of isolation and death. In the story he is given grace, despite being undeserving of it. The grace he is given is being presented the truth. It is very representative of God’s grace, that He presents us with the truth, and when we accept His grace, we are able then to give grace ourselves.
I honestly never put this story in the light of God’s grace. It has always been presented to me as a “feel good” story, so I am blessed and appreciate your thoughts on it this morning.
Chris,
Thank you! It feels good to be able to “give” you words that have value.
Great devotion and comments!
12-04-2023, How does the reformed Scrooge illustrate God’s grace for us today?
The gift of God is a gift we can’t earn, or create nor do we deserve it. The gift of God is a new life supplied by the Holy Spirit. This gift is for everyone, and it is freely given to all who turn from sin, to Jesus. The apostle Paul wrote, this gracious gift of God is too wonderful for words.
John 11:25–26, Ephesians 2:8–9, John 3:5–8, 6:63, John 3:16, Romans 5:15; 6:23, 2 Corinthians 9:14–15
God’s gift of the Holy Spirit equips and empowers believers to be ambassadors for Christ and to have victory over dark forces in this world. Believers are led by the Spirit of God, sanctified through the Spirit’s work, who is the inspiration of God to write Scripture. The gift of God is the soul-sustaining living water of eternal life, and it is ours in Jesus Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit, an indescribable gift!
John 14:16, Acts 1:8,10:44; 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Peter 1:12, Romans 8:14, Romans 15:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:20–21.
Scrooge illustrates a change in the actions of an individual who has been convicted of their sinful acts against others, but does not give glory to God, the Holy Spirit as the power to recognize his sins, and effectively serve God’s will over his own.
Romans 7:18, I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Ephesians 2:10, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Thanks Ron!
You are completely right about Scrooge. The story is vague on the reference to Christ in Christmas.
You bring to mind Matthew 7:11 —
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
An apt paraphrase might be, “If you, then, who are Scrooges at heart know how to give good gifts…” 🙂
Fortunately, as you point out, our heavenly Father is much more generous and has much more to give.
Yes He does! Freely gives as He encourages change, providing clarity and the power to change.
Great Job Jeff!
Nicely done Jeff! You put together a very thoughtful perspective of grace in this days devotion.
Thanks, Tim! 🙂