Because of the parable of Jesus we tend to think of our goal as attaining the pearl of great price even if it costs us everything. While that seems like a worthy goal did you notice that the parable as Jesus tells it begins, “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching….” It is not the thing itself, the pearl of great price, but the merchant searching which is emphasized. Maybe Jesus is telling us that the kingdom of God is not so much what we have but what we are willing to strive after. There is never a moment when we can say, I’ve got it. Now I can cease. No, we are always on the way, working toward the kingdom of God.