In our culture, success is often measured by how much we can achieve, acquire, or control. For business professionals, these measurements can feel magnified: How big is our company? How high are our profits? Are we the biggest and most “successful” in our industry?

Yet as Christians, we’re called to something far greater than this view of ownership. Scripture challenges us to push against this societal norm and instead turn towards a posture of stewardship.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44

This one sentence parable has been on my mind quite a bit recently. Jesus shares back-to-back parables (this and the pearl of great value) and says that the finder goes and sells all that they have as a result.

Normally, the holidays are filled with joyous anticipation. Within a span of three months in the U.S., we move from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year’s Eve. It is time to celebrate!

And yet, we find ourselves in a very different situation this year.