A Christmas Carol was written by Charles Dickens and published December 17, 1843. It is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter, old miser and his transformation after he was visited by his former business partner, Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.
Dickens wrote about poverty from personal experience. His own father was sent to debtor’s prison and Dickens’ family moved to prison with him. Charles life changed from being educated at elite schools to working in a blacking factory at the age of twelve. It was there he saw real and raw poverty. Charles Dickens was embarrassed of his past and kept those experiences secret for most of his life.
Scrooge, has become a well-known expression meaning stingy, miserly and miserable along with the phrase, “Bah-Humbug!”. It is easy to identify people that are Scrooges. You cannot change them, but you can change yourself. Ask yourself in what ways you are like Ebenezer Scrooge and consider how to Un-Scrooge yourselves this Christmas.
Shepherds in the Bible and still today are very common, blue-collar working class people. The book of Luke in the Bible shares how their lives were forever changed when they encountered Jesus in the stable.
Luke 2:15-20
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
What ways can you encounter Jesus more profoundly this Christmas?
Experiencing Jesus in your life will change you and melt away any Scrooge-like characteristics.
Dickens wrote about poverty from personal experience. His own father was sent to debtor’s prison and Dickens’ family moved to prison with him. Charles life changed from being educated at elite schools to working in a blacking factory at the age of twelve. It was there he saw real and raw poverty. Charles Dickens was embarrassed of his past and kept those experiences secret for most of his life.
Scrooge, has become a well-known expression meaning stingy, miserly and miserable along with the phrase, “Bah-Humbug!”. It is easy to identify people that are Scrooges. You cannot change them, but you can change yourself. Ask yourself in what ways you are like Ebenezer Scrooge and consider how to Un-Scrooge yourselves this Christmas.
Shepherds in the Bible and still today are very common, blue-collar working class people. The book of Luke in the Bible shares how their lives were forever changed when they encountered Jesus in the stable.
Luke 2:15-20
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
What ways can you encounter Jesus more profoundly this Christmas?
Experiencing Jesus in your life will change you and melt away any Scrooge-like characteristics.
- Re-read this passage with your friend, spouse or family member.
- Ask God to meet you … in your place, like the shepherds.
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