Recently, I’ve had the privilege of preaching to two very different groups. The first was to a group of prisoners at the Kentucky State Reformatory in LaGrange, Kentucky. Approximately 70 convicted felons convened in the modest chapel, offering praise to God for the forgiveness of their sins and the promise of eternal life. My sermon centered on our blessed hope in Christ, and the prisoners participated and worshipped enthusiastically. It was exhilarating as they passionately sang, “All my hope is in Jesus. Thank God my yesterday’s gone!” The worship service was deeply moving, and the subsequent conversations afterward were meaningful. Leaving the reformatory, I thanked God for my freedom and pondered whether I could maintain such joy under similar constraints.
Contrastingly, two weeks later, I preached at the Chapel at the Ocean Reef Community in Key Largo, Florida. As you can imagine, the resort community was luxurious, and the chapel was beautiful. The setting and attendees could not be in more contrast to the prison. Several of the 200 attendees owned yachts docked in the nearby marina, and others had personal jets parked a few hundred yards away on the tarmac of the resort’s private airstrip. Compared to the prison, the worship service was more formal and subdued, as worshippers quietly sang, “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent word.”
I preached from Philippians 4, which admonishes us, “Don’t be anxious about anything,” because anxiety often plagues those who live in luxury. The response was different here; no loud “amens” or clapping but a quiet attentiveness. Afterward, many shared their gratitude for the message, acknowledging that life’s value isn’t measured by possessions (see Luke 12:15).
These contrasting worship experiences served as a powerful reminder: everyone needs the Lord. The penniless prisoner who anticipates spending a lifetime behind bars and the retired tycoon who can fly to a desired destination at a moment’s notice share a commonality—they are both sinners in need of Jesus Christ. It has been said that Christ provides three spiritual essentials unavailable elsewhere: the forgiveness of sins, the assurance of eternal life, and a defined purpose. This universal need includes even the most prosperous among us.
Many Christians treat evangelism as if the good news of Jesus is meant only for the outcasts and disadvantaged and not for the elite. Warren Wiersbe, a renowned minister, recounted a visit to a wealthy prospect in an exclusive community. Wiersbe and the deacon who accompanied him drove up to the lavish home with luxury on display. As they walked up the sidewalk, they saw their prospect through a spacious bay window, lounging in an easy chair, watching a golf match on his wide-screen TV. The deacon asked Dr. Weirsbe, “Now, exactly what kind of good news do we have for him?”
It is a challenging notion. We often reserve our evangelistic zeal for those visibly in need and neglect those who, beneath a veneer of success, may be equally yearning for spiritual fulfillment. We get more excited about the dramatic conversion of a stripper, addict, or convict than they do about the quiet conversion of an executive or soccer mom. If a person’s life is falling apart, we rush to them in hopes of sharing the gospel. Yet if a person appears healthy, prosperous, and loved, then we hesitate, wondering what good news do we have for them?
Jesus Himself ministered across the cultural spectrum—from the marginalized to the affluent. His most prolonged conversation in scripture was at Jacob’s Well with a Samaritan woman of ill repute (see John 4). His second most prolonged conversation was with Nicodemus, a respected member of the Jewish Supreme Court, with wealth and status (see John 3).
Jesus cared for beggars and lepers, and “The common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37 KJV). Most of his closest disciples were fishermen, blue-collar workers. Yet, He also associated with the likes of Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, and enjoyed the hospitality of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, whose Bethany home was large enough to accommodate His followers. And Mary possessed an alabaster jar of perfume worth a year’s wages. Jesus was close companions with the poor and affluent.
Despite fame and fortune, Jim Carrey once lamented, “I found I couldn’t shove enough drugs, women, cars, stereos, houses, stardom in there to make me feel good. I guess that’s why a lot of people overdose. They get to the point where the hole is so big, they die.” French philosopher Blaise Pascal noted that when one is absent from God, everyone feels that same intrinsic void. “There is a God-shaped hole in every heart that only God can fill.” Only the atoning blood of Jesus Christ can wash away our sins. Only Jesus’ bodily resurrection provides hope of life beyond the grave. Only Jesus can bring ultimate meaning to every day. Only the Holy Spirit of God can fill the emptiness—even the most famous, wealthy, and elite.
Therefore, don’t segregate the influential as spiritually indifferent or beyond reach. People of influence desperately need Christ’s forgiveness and hope. Don’t be intimidated by them. Like anyone apart from God, they will likely be restless within. While their conversion may not be as dramatic as the addict’s, their testimony and impact for the Kingdom of God could be considerable. For instance, after the Baltimore Ravens’ playoff victory Saturday night, Head Coach John Harbaugh opened the press conference by reciting a scripture—a praise,  “Greatness, power, glory, victory, and honor belong to you because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. The kingdom belongs to you, Lord…” (1 Chronicles 29:11). An elite coach like John Harbaugh’s quote of scripture can encourage and embolden countless others.
Pastor Wayne Smith aptly said, “The up-and-outers need Christ just as much as the down-and-outers.” Influential people need caring friends who will treat them as normal people and not put them on a pedestal or try to knock them off their pedestal. Most importantly, they need Christian friends who will introduce them to Christ, invite them to church, accompany them to a Bible study, and enhance their walk with Christ. Because “[Christ] died once for all” (Romans 6:10).
“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly” (Leviticus 19:15).
