We have all, well… most of us anyway, have read Dr. Seuss’ “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.” At the end of the book, the Grinch comes in on Christmas Eve night and he steals all the presents, the Christmas Trees, the decorations, and all their food. He takes it back to his lair thinking that he had stolen Christmas. After all, without the presents, the decorations, and food for the feast, there can be no Christmas.
Do we ever fall into that trap, thinking that there can be no Christmas without the presents and the food for the feast? What if we woke up on Christmas Day and found our presents stolen and our fridge and freezer empty? Or would we be like the Whos from Who-ville?
As the Grinch is basking in his glory, looking down on Who-ville, having stolen Christmas, he waits to hear the screaming and the wailing from the people when they find everything gone; especially the tree in the center of town. And then “he heard a sound rising over the snow, it started in low and then it started to grow.” The sound wasn’t sad, it was merry! The Grinch was confounded, the whole town of Who-ville was singing. He hadn’t stopped Christmas at all… When I think about this book, I’m drawn to Habakkuk.
The prophet Habakkuk writes (3:17-18): “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, thought the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in my God and Savior.”
Habakkuk wrote this passage shortly after the Babylonian invasion. It was an extremely traumatic and hopeless period for Israel. The Assyrian army had already destroyed several cities, killing many. All the places where Israel found security and measured their wealth and power were destroyed; livestock, crops, and food stores were all destroyed. Places of worship had been ravaged; the temple and with it the articles of worship taken as plunder. Those not killed were taken into exile.
It is just during this time of hopelessness that Habakkuk writes, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in my God and Savior.” For Habakkuk, for the faithful in Christ, and, yes, The Whos in Who-ville; we are reminded that wealth and presents do not make Christmas, nor do they determine our joy. Each joyful day dawns with the Light of Christ.
Prayer: Gracious Father, help us to see clearly Your Glory. Allow us to be humble and gracious in those times of plenty and faithful and joyous in times of want and grief. Help us to see your absolute sovereignty in our lives and find peace, hope, joy, and love in You. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
With Christ’s Joy, Pastor Brett