When your life’s focus is pleasing God, human opinions lose their power to define or control you. Our culture often places immense pressure on pleasing others, seeking approval from leaders, coworkers, or society at large.

We live in a transactional age. We swipe, click, compare, and buy—instantly satisfying desires with precision. Online shopping is our culture in miniature. It commands. Take what you want. Leave what you don't. Customize it to your desires.

Imagine a father building a fire pit behind his house—not just for warmth, but for memory-making. An altar of laughter, storytelling, and late-night lessons. He warns his children gently about the nature of flame: beautiful, yes, but unforgiving when mishandled. His cautions carry love, but to young ears, they feel abstract.