REFLECTIONS
February 25, 2007
 
 
It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3: 24
 
 
Currency
 
Bono is a rock star. He draws thousands and thousands to his concerts each year. Patrons scream and dance in delight to his music. His group, U-2, is known around the world and from it Bono has become a world-wide celebrity.
Celebrity status is a mark of success. It is a position that brings out red carpets for airport arrivals and opens doors to reach world leaders. In their own way celebrities gain influence whether or not their cause is worthy. Celebrities have admirers that want to become a part of what they represent. Celebrity status sometimes carries a position of wealth, but it always carries a position of influence.
Celebrities are often associated with the influence they have outside the arenas they are celebrated. Sports stars raise money for charity, and Academy Award winners take political stands. Bono is no different. Bono takes a position for Jesus Christ.
“This thing called ‘celebrity’ is currency,” Bono declares. “And if I am blessed with this form of currency, then I should use it to bless the One who blessed me.” And he does. Bono has used his position to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world; and he has used his position to gain access to powerful people. He uses his “currency” to inspire world leaders and to challenge churches throughout our land to serve the impoverished parts of our world who suffer with starvation and disease. Bono sees the “currency” he has as a position of influence. But he also recognizes it as a position of responsibility.
Most of us live simpler lives with much smaller spheres of influence. Most of us feel blessed to live as we are, where we are, without the burdens that accompany the status we call “celebrity.” But we are all celebrities to someone. In our own ways, each of us has gained a position of influence. Someone we have in our lives roles out red carpets when we arrive, and someone opens doors for us to reach people of greater influence. We all have followers and admirers that want to become a part of what we represent. We all are blessed with the “currency” of influence.
There is a stage you play on even though it does not make the local paper. God has blessed you and me with “currency” to make a difference. We are blessed with the “currency” to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the world around us. It is a currency of influence. More importantly, it is a currency of responsibility.
And it is a currency that affords us to give all that we have.
 
“You are the light of the world.”
Richard  Ì
 


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