Life in community

“It was a very low fire indeed; nothing on such a bitter night. He was obliged to sit close to it, and brood over it, before he could extract the least sensation of warmth from such handful of fuel as was there. The emptiness of the house echoed the emptiness of his heart.”

(Stave 1, A Christmas Carol)

 

“It is not good for the man to be alone”

(Genesis 2:18)

 

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).” (Matthew 1.22-23)

Advent Day 6: Isolation breeds brokenness; Relationships breed life 

In A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is portrayed as a man deeply alone—by his own making. His greed, bitterness, and disdain for others have cut him off from family, friends, and community. Dickens writes:

“It was a very low fire indeed; nothing on such a bitter night. He was obliged to sit close to it, and brood over it, before he could extract the least sensation of warmth from such handful of fuel as was there. The emptiness of the house echoed the emptiness of his heart.”

 

Scrooge’s isolation is not simply a matter of being unloved—it is the fruit of his choices. He has traded warmth of companionship for the cold comfort of coin. His loneliness is both his punishment and his prison.

 

The Bible speaks often of the dangers of isolation. Proverbs 18:1 warns, “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” From the beginning, God declared, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We are created for relationship—with God and with one another.

 

Isolation is not always physical. We can be surrounded by people and yet live with hearts walled off, refusing to love, forgive, or open ourselves to others. Like Scrooge, we may discover too late that the walls we build to protect ourselves become the very barriers that imprison us.

 

But Advent announces that God has come near. Jesus entered a broken and lonely world, taking on flesh so that we might never be truly alone. The prophet Isaiah declared that His name would be Emmanuel—“God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). In Christ, God draws near to the isolated, the outcast, the sinner.

 

The Good News of Christmas is that Jesus tears down the walls of separation and brings us into fellowship with God and with one another. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).

 

Scrooge’s journey reminds us that isolation is a consequence of sin, but redemption brings restoration. He who once pushed others away awakens to the joy of companionship, generosity, and love.

 

This Advent season, examine your own heart. Have you withdrawn from others? Have bitterness, fear, or pride led you into isolation? Listen to the voice of Emmanuel—God with us—and step back into the light of His presence and the fellowship of His people.

 

Reflection:

  • Where in your life do you feel the ache of loneliness?

  • What steps might God be calling you to take to open yourself to Him and to others this season?

Prayer

Almighty God, open my ears to hear from you today. Open my eyes to my own shortcomings . . . those parts of my life that are ill-prepared to hear from you; those parts that are hardened to  the moving of Your Spirit. May I not put off Your Spirit as something inconsequential. May I have a Scrooge-Marley experience. A moment that is so clarifying in my life that I know I have encountered a Holy God who calls me to Him. Amen.

O Come, O Come Immanuel
Latin Hymn, 12th century
Translated by John M. Neale (1818-1866)

O Come, O Come Immanuel
Latin Hymn, 12th century
Translated by John M. Neale (1818-1866)

Playlist Daily Highlight

We’ve provided multiple versions of this classic Christmas carol. Listen to your favorite style, but also try something new!

 

See if you find a new appreciation for this song or a different version than what you’re used to.

 

Take the time to listen . . . really listen to the words of this song and reflect on them. Let God speak to you in this moment.