“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof” (Matthew 13: 31-32, KJV).
Building spiritual fortitude and quality of character begin with small steps, just like the mustard seed. Growth in trading parallels spiritual growth. Paying attention to the many minute details involved in trading leads to future rewards. A small detail could mean the difference between a winning and a losing trade.
“In the case of the parable of the mustard seed the image is of something that begins as a small, seemingly insignificant thing but which achieves, through a process of growth, great strength and stature. . . . The image of the tree is appropriate, for just as a tree is rooted in the earth but reaches up to heaven, so the unfolding of personality includes both our earthy and our spiritual natures” (The Kingdom Within: The Inner Meaning of Jesus’ Sayings by John A. Sanford, p.30).
From a certain perspective trading may appear crass—immersed in mud and dirt—certainly, a part of our earthy nature. But by immersing ourselves in the muddy, cloudy ethics in the world of trading, we can wrestle with our demons and emerge triumphant. From trading’s seedy roots we can—with God’s grace—ascend to the heavens.