Dickens in the Spring? It's All About Business!

March, 2007

by: Walt Bertelsen

“…Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.”

Thus Charles Dickens ends the opening paragraph of his immortal story of ghosts, remorse, and change. Years ago, I read Dickens’ description of Marley’s ghoulish, warning visit to Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge inquired of his dead partner about the chain that he was dragging behind him. “I wear the chain I forged in life,” Marley says. “I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will.” His life had been one of self-consuming greed. Now, says he, the chain that Scrooge has been forging is much longer than the one he himself had made. Pondering his own fate, Scrooge offers, “But you were always a good man of business, Jacob….” “Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!” He goes on: “At this time of the rolling year I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to the poor abode! Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me!” Marley beckoned Scrooge to the window where, looking out, he saw other horrible spectres floating above the town streets, also trailing long chains, bemoaning in remorse their eternal inability to aide the distressed living below.

Why recount this Christmas story now, in March? Simply this: Christmas is preeminently the celebration of the heart of God and his faithful lovingkindness, just as Good Friday is the demonstration of it and Easter the proof. Valentine’s Day has recently come and gone—an occasion of much protestation of love by men to wives, children, sisters, and girlfriends, accompanied by cards, candy, and flowers. And now, March is here with the beginning of Spring, when a young man’s fancy turns to…. It’s a perfect time to tell Scrooge’s story—the story of a man who has lived a life of self-absorbed greed, yet—granted the opportunity to see what such a life has accomplished (zero) and the certainty of its end—makes a complete turn-around to genuine love and finds the incredible job of giving.

Some of you may never have had the experience of reading Dickens yourself. I wouldn’t dare to vouch for his condition before God, but many of his stories vividly illustrate—in picturesque portraiture and delightful dialogue—important spiritual truth. Marley’s chain shows us that “a man reaps what he sows” (Gal 6:7). Judas-like remorse is very evident in Scrooge when he recognizes the happiness he missed by allowing his fiancée to walk away. His bitter regret deepens as he sees a life wasted on itself—a “life” with no room to make people his “business.” Aware that he has been granted a new day of life, a truly repentant Scrooge—bubbling over with the joy of Christmas love to all—buys a Christmas goose and tips the boy, humbly accepts the invitation to share Christmas dinner with his nephew’s family, and provides for his poor clerk’s son, Tiny Tim, to have the operation that would save his life.

In Scrooge’s case, a lifetime of hoarded resources was given over to make a difference in ways that matter. In your case, man, what will you give? Joyous servant giving is the essence of biblical love.

John makes a point of saying that God’s very essence is both light and love (1 John). The truth that sets free lives out Jesus’ life—in joyous giving and serving others: our wives, our children, the Body, and especially those in distress. In this way, our love grows toward the end God intended (perfection, maturity), and thus we can face Him with confidence on that Day (1 Jn 4:16,17), knowing we are living out His life in this world.

It’s Spring! To what business will your heart turn, O man?