Alton finished his text message as the car rolled to a halt. The door opened and his driver stood aside, allowing him to exit the vehicle.

“Thank you, Daniel,” he said, and strode toward his palatial estate, his mind still on his phone. How could he get through to his kids?

Daniel hurried ahead and pulled open the heavy oak door for him. Alton nodded his thanks, and entered. Emily was there to greet him.

“Good evening, Mr. Harcourt,” Emily said. “Would you care to have your dinner now?”

Alton stopped and faced Emily. “Soon, thank you. Would you like to join me?”

Emily’s smile froze. “Excuse me?”

Alton hurried to correct any misunderstanding. “It’s late, and you’ve worked a long day. I thought you might like some dinner. I was hoping my children would join me, but they have other plans, so there is plenty of food. I’ll see if Daniel and Rita would like to join us, although I suspect Rita probably samples the food as she cooks it.”

Emily’s expression softened. “That’s very kind of you, sir. I’ll go speak to Rita about it.”

“I’ll check with Daniel before he leaves.”

Within ten minutes, Alton sat at the ornate dining table with the three members of his household staff. “Please, allow me to ask a blessing,” Alton said. The others around the table bowed their heads and closed their eyes.

“Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for this meal, and for blessing me with such faithful staff who help me run this home so I can focus on running the business. Please bless them all and please use this food to nourish us so we can do the work You have for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Amens echoed around the table. After a few moments of silence while all were busy eating, Alton turned to Rita. “You’ve outdone yourself once again. This is delicious. My kids don’t know what they’re missing.”

“You’re too kind,” Rita said, a blush rising in her cheeks.

“You should be told when you make fantastic food. Thank you for dinner.”

Daniel’s brow creased. “You’re an interesting man, Boss.”

“Oh, how so?”

“Not many people of your standing would stoop to eating with the help, much less thank their personal chef for making dinner.”

Alton’s lips curved into a smile. “Perhaps not. I may have accumulated material wealth, but in God’s eyes, we’re all equal. When our Lord Jesus was on this earth, He communed with everyone. Fishermen, tax collectors, sinners… I don’t care how much money a person has. That doesn’t equate to worth. In fact, I am envious of all of you. You’re far richer than I am.”

Emily’s eyebrows shot upward. “How do you figure that?”

Alton counted on his fingers. “Daniel, for one, sees his daughter and grandson every weekend. That little boy adores him. And Rita,” Alton said, putting out a second finger, “goes home every night to her mother and her daughter. And you, Emily,” Alton said, extending a third finger, “are the apple of your parents’ eye, and that fiancée of yours loves you more than life itself.”

The others were silent as Alton continued. “Me, well, I lost my precious Sarah, and now my children are too busy to come visit. Worst of all, they change the subject when I mention God. I’m not sure where we went wrong. I’d give my entire fortune to know they’d join me in heaven one day.”

Psalm 49: 7-9

No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—so that they should live on forever and not see decay.

Dear God, please help us always to remember to trust in You, not in worldly things. Thank You for the blessing of other Christians in our lives, and for giving us people to love and who love us. When people we love are far from You, help us to be diligent in our prayers for them. As we read in “2 Peter 3: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” You want everyone to come to You. Thank You for using us to help bring people to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.