Written by Brenna McCormick
A few months ago, my husband and I snuggled in with our two children to watch Mufasa on Disney+. Just like every other Friday night, we were set to eat pizza, watch a movie together, and unwind after a busy week.
Before the movie even started, a commercial for St. Jude came on.
We sat in silence.
I care deeply about kids suffering… but also, I didn’t want to think about that right then. Besides, we didn’t really have money to give at the moment.
Then it hit me:
If I had an hour carved out to enjoy a movie with my family, didn’t we have a few minutes to pray for those families first?
And hadn’t we just paid $10 for Disney+ so we could watch this movie together?
Whose responsibility is it?
My husband is training to be a missionary pilot. One day he’ll fly the Word of God and the hope of Jesus to communities that are so remote they have no church, no Bible in their language, and no access to the gospel at all. You could say that’s our family’s “thing.” It’s certainly our heart.
I’ve noticed that whenever we invite people to come alongside this mission, we often hear the same objections:
“I don’t have the money right now.”
“My plate’s already full. I don’t have time.”
“I don’t really feel called to that.”
And I get it. We all have limited time, limited energy, and limited resources.
But does being invested in one area of God’s kingdom (or even a few) let us check the box and move on to our own comforts and plans?
When Our Everyday Choices Reveal Our Heart
Here’s the truth: as believers, we’re not called to care about only the causes that tug on our emotions or stir our hearts. We’re called to care about the things God cares about.
And God’s Word tells us clearly:
• We’re called to share His love with the nations (Matthew 28:19–20, Acts 1:8).
• We’re called to witness to our neighbors (Acts 1:8).
• We’re called to care for orphans and widows (James 1:27).
Recently, God’s been showing me how much of my available time, attention, and money is wrapped up in building my little kingdom—comforts, hobbies, dreams, distractions—instead of His kingdom.
Do you see it in your life, too?
We say we don’t have time—but we find hours to scroll or keep ourselves busy with one more practice, project, or plan.
We say we don’t have money—but we budget for streaming, takeout, and upgrades.
It’s not that these things are wrong, but how often do they quietly edge out what God cares about without us even noticing? How often is the American culture of consumerism, our own wants, and hustle, not His heart for the world, our invisible driving force?
God’s Heart Is Bigger Than Our Comfort
Scripture cautions us about our natural bent toward our own comfort and priorities (Matthew 6:21, James 4:3), but God continually calls us to align with His heart: for the nations, for the lost, and for the vulnerable (including orphans).
So what if, instead of assuming we don’t have time or money, or we’re not called to that, we freed up more of our time, money, and attention for the things God cares about?
Because imagine if every believer really lived that way.
Imagine if we put the phone down and prayed for Unreached People or “unwanted” kids instead of scrolling when we need a distraction or want an escape.
Imagine if we freed up just one subscription, one latte habit, or one home project budget to help someone hear God’s name for the very first time.
Imagine if the biggest problem foster agencies faced wasn’t a shortage of families to take kids in, but too many Christians eager to open their doors.
A Heart Check
Here’s the thought that’s been rattling around in my soul:
If someone looked at my calendar, my credit card bill, my home—would it look like I’m living radically for the Lord? Or would it look pretty much the same as my non-Christian neighbor down the street?
What about you? What story do your calendar, budget, and home tell?
God didn’t put us on this earth to build dream kitchens or chase a comfortable life. He put us here to spread His love and His kingdom.
So maybe the better question isn’t “Am I burdened for foster kids?” or “Do I feel called to the Unreached?”
Maybe the real question is: Am I willing to care about more of the things that God cares about, whether or not they were ever ‘my thing’ to begin with? And even if it means freeing up time and money I’ve been spending on myself and my family?
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few simple ways to begin:
• Pray intentionally. Set an alarm this week to pray that God would stir His people’s hearts for foster children, kids who need adopted, and those who’ve never heard His name.
• Give sacrificially. Take what you might spend on one subscription or outing and use it to help bring God’s love where it’s never been heard or to support foster families.
• Live attentively. Before your next purchase or time commitment, pause and ask, “Lord, am I building my kingdom—or Yours?”
Every small shift draws our hearts closer to His, changing not only our lives but the lives of others for His Kingdom and His glory.
