What are we really chasing? 

From a video by Faith Driven Entrepreneur

At the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Conference 2025, Francis Chan challenged us to examine the hidden idols of comfort, recognition, and control. What shows up in your leadership, and what’s one step to release it?

Here is a summary of the video segment:

Francis's reflection is a deeply personal and spiritual meditation on calling, sacrifice, and the tension between faithfulness and cultural disruption. It begins with a heartfelt declaration of love for partnering with God, even when the path is painful or leads to loss. The speaker emphasizes that obedience must be relational - not just doing what God asks, but doing it with Him. Jesus’ example of emptying Himself becomes the model: not striving for success, but surrendering for love.

His message then shifts to a critique of modern culture’s obsession with disruption. In entrepreneurship and social media, especially among young people, disruption is often celebrated. But the speaker warns that this drive can mask coveting - wanting recognition, influence, or wealth under the guise of innovation. The question becomes: why are we disrupting? Is it faithfulness or ego? Francis admits that he may have been misunderstood as a disruptor, but clarifies that his actions stem from conviction, not novelty. When scripture reveals disobedience, he felt compelled to change - not to be different, but to be faithful.

This leads into a powerful reflection on generosity and simplicity. Francis shares their own story of growing up poor, remembering the joy of owning five shirts and the innocence of not knowing wealth. Even as his ministry grew, he chose not to take a raise, living on modest means and resisting the lure of money. When his book, 'Crazy Love' unexpectedly became a bestseller, he'd had already prayed: “God, if you ever make me rich, I’ll give it all away.” True to that promise, they placed all proceeds into a donor-advised fund, ensuring it would go to those in need.

His joy comes not from possessions but from helping others - feeding children, supporting orphans, and seeing lives transformed. He describes the deep satisfaction of seeing a child who was once starving now thriving, even becoming a doctor. This kind of impact, he argues, never fades. Unlike material pleasures, which are fleeting, generosity creates lasting joy and eternal reward. He references 1 Timothy 6, which calls the rich to be generous and rich in good deeds, so they may experience “the life that is truly life.”

The reflection also touches on the spiritual battle for young hearts and minds. Francis urges early conversations about generosity, warning that without them, the pursuit of wealth can become dangerous. He dreams of a new generation - one that is rich but doesn’t care about stuff, that gives sacrificially and lives simply. He challenge believers to live differently not for views or followers, but because scripture demands it.

Finally, Francis turns to hope. He asks: how often do we truly hope for heaven? While the world longs for vacations, promotions, and possessions, believers should be obsessed with the New Heaven and New Earth. That eternal perspective should shape how we live, give, and anticipate the future. When we store up treasure in heaven, our hearts follow. Living simply and sacrificially is a way of placing all our bets on eternity - on the promise of seeing Jesus, of experiencing perfect relationship, and of receiving grace that never ends.

In essence, this reflection is a call to radical faithfulness. It’s a rejection of cultural norms that equate success with disruption, wealth, and recognition. Instead, it’s an invitation to live with purpose, humility, and eternal hope - to find joy not in what we gain, but in what we give away.

Watch the video segment (59 mins into the video for 20 mins) here: