Many times we give money in response to a felt need or in response to a tragedy—it’s emotional and the results are measurable. But in addition to that, what would it look like to become someone who was not only an intervention giver, but a prevention giver?

We really believe the local church can change the world. But it’s not what we believe or how much faith we have that will make a difference. In fact, the answer to our most complex problems might be simpler than we think.

If we’re honest, many of us tend to serve just to please others or perhaps to prove something to ourselves or other people. But if we are to serve without insecurity or arrogance, we must first understand our identity and our purpose.

To the apostle John, following Jesus and being compassionate were practically synonymous. This is particularly true when it comes to our money and other resources. As Christians, we look for ways to do for others what in that moment they can't do for themselves.

It can be easy to see someone else self-destruct and think to ourselves, I would never do that. But truth be told, we’re all capable of ending up where we don’t want to be. Even Solomon's son—the heir to the throne of Israel—blatantly ignored a principle that we should all pay close attention to.

We can talk ourselves into anything. Our internal narratives justify our beliefs as well as our actions. But when those narratives are not true, they lead to destructive thoughts and behaviors. We can choose to carry around false but comfortable narratives—or we can look to destroy them.

We all face dilemmas in which circumstances point us in one direction, but our consciences point us in a different direction. At times, we ignore the tug of our consciences and sell ourselves on a questionable decision. King David found himself in such a position, and his example can help us navigate our own dilemmas.

We all have a tendency to judge others based on what we think they deserve. Maybe you’ve tried to do things the right way, but those who had no regard for the right way seemed to be rewarded. The truth is, when we overestimate our own righteousness and underestimate the grace we’ve been given, we can’t help but judge others. In order to discover true peace, we need to shift our focus from others to ourselves and rest in the relationship we have with the Father.

If there’s one thing that’s true for all of us, it’s that we will pursue our own desires and eventually come to regret it. It’s a cycle in which we often find ourselves. Unfortunately, we tend to circle back to the same desires that got us in trouble in the first place. Often this is because we’re afraid to come back home to our heavenly Father. We try to fix things on our own instead of coming home, where we can truly find peace and rest. What if we made the decision to come home—where we were intended to be all along? Maybe it’s here we will realize that our dependence on the Father is what gives us true freedom in this life.

The term “father” stirs up a variety of feelings and memories in all of us. For some of us, our fathers were a dominant presence in our homes. For others, our fathers were people we barely saw. For still others, our fathers were consistent providers but cold when it came to showing genuine love. So when we hear the term “heavenly Father,” what feelings bubble up? In one story, Jesus gives us a perfect picture of who our heavenly Father truly is.