Rich Man, Poor Man

"Mom, do you know who The Property Brothers are?" my son was asking on his phone call from California. Of course, I knew who the television personalities were from their show on remodeling houses. "Well, they were on this flight with me!" he exclaimed.

Why was I not surprised? Greg has a knack for running into celebrities. A few years ago he ran into and talked to Mike Tyson on Rodeo Drive. This past summer, he was in the same music store with an admired, famous singer, Michael Martin Murphey and shook his hand no less that 3 times!

I can't say I've met many celebrities, only one time I met Gloria Copeland in the Galleria in Houston. I'd been noticing that she was looking thin on TV, and I said, "You're wasting away to nothing!" to which she replied, "Why thank you, honey!"

The mother-in-law of one of our sons used to have Pat Boone as a Sunday School teacher. She said she was at an event in their backyard once (I think a baptismal service in his pool), when she lived in California. I mentioned something about this to a woman at church one day, and she smiled politely. "Do you know who Pat Boone is?" I asked, and she said, "No, does he go to this church?"

Our pastor just came back from a mission trip and told the story that a government official, the Minister of Finance of that country, was a guest at the same gathering. They ended up singing Karaoke together! (After singing Amazing Grace at the official's request, he was asked to explain what the song meant, enabling him to have the host pastor preach and present the plan of salvation in their native language!)

Meeting celebrities and important people can be impressive and exciting, but it is good to remember they are only human, and as much in need of a Savior as everyone else. We are told in James 1:2 to not show partiality to a wealthy person who may come into a congregation by giving him the best seat, while delegating a poor person to a lesser place. Jesus is no respecter of persons.

Everyone wants to be great, but Jesus said in Matthew 20:27, "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant."

Lest we feel inferior or inconsequential, let us remember the words Jesus spoke in I Corinthians 1:26-27, "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty."

All need the gospel, and we all have a part in sharing it!