THE RICH AND FAMOUS

“Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats? Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?” (James 2:5-7 ASV)

Most recently as I was reading my email, I came across one that my brother-in-law had sent me that was a video from the “youtube”. It brightened my day for it was very funny. Someone has said that laughter is the best medicine. But right next to it was a small picture of Oprah Winfrey with the caption, “The church of Oprah.” That caught my eye. I thought within myself that it was just another “spoof” of someone who had something against a person that had become “rich and famous.”

As I listened to the introduction about the millions of people Oprah reaches daily and how many have become her followers, my interest in what was to follow became keener. I then entered the video where she was discussing God with her audience. It was not so much what she said but the way it was said. She said that we are all responsible for ourselves and that a person has a right to believe his or her own way. She did not appear to believe in Christ; she does not believe in just “one way.” With her many followers she is able to lead many away from God to everlasting condemnation.

I have nothing personal against the rich; I am always proud for each person who succeeds. There are two basic differences between me, (the average person) and the rich person: First, the rich person makes more money than I do. However, if I did not buy his products or use his expertise, he would not have the money he has acquired. But, his money is only temporary, “For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass: and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings” (James 1:11 ASV).

The second difference is that, provided you are a Christians, what you have is eternal. James writes in the twelfth verse of chapter one of the book of James, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.” It is far more important to follow an acceptable attitude toward all men than to be directed by someone because they are rich, Our text scripture says, “Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?”

All those who become rich and famous do not lose their sense of direction. Nicole Buffett, the adopted granddaughter of the richest man in the world said in an interview that, even though they were rich, her grandfather, Warren Buffett, brought them up as ordinary. When they were old enough they shared the family car and went to public schools. His philosophy was, “For most people, your life is largely determined by the wealth you were — or weren't — born into." He taught them to use what they had and to achieve for themselves. This would require self planning and self thinking.

All we have to do is look around and we can see that many of our once Christian youths do not think for themselves. They are led by the rich and the famous. Look at their mode of dress, both males and females. Most of all, look at how they disfigure their bodies with tattoos which one day when reality sets in they will want to remove. Christians follow the dress of the Bible which is not the dress of the rich and famous but is “modest” dress (II Timothy 2: 9). Even though this scripture is used to talk about the dress of women, modesty is the dress for both males and females.

Modest dress is not making one look weird or strange but is dress that will not call attention to self. The rich and famous are on stage and it is a part of their business to seek attention to self. I believe it is Beyonce that says, “What you see on stage is not the real me.” What some people do not realize that a style or fad that might look attractive on some makes a spectacle of others. When we walk among people as Christian there should not be more eyes on the individual than on the Lord and His purpose for us.

If you plan to go to heaven you must not seek a life after the rich and famous but a life that professes godliness, following Christ, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you and be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27 ASV).