Vocation, Success, and the Art of Fulfillment

In our unwavering pursuit of professional development and success, we find ourselves at a crossroads — torn between the desire to enjoy our work and the assumption that financial prosperity correlates to greater satisfaction. Career success, defined by Joe Frodsham and Maryanne Pina-Frodsham, authors of Dont Dread Money: Your Guide to Career Success, "is the level of happiness and reward a person derives from their career." In this article, we delve into the complexities of this conflict, exploring the nuanced relationship between financial success and the pursuit of a satisfying career. Is more money the solution to a more fulfilling professional life, or does it introduce new challenges that impede our journey to genuine contentment?

In exploring the crossroads between financial success and professional satisfaction, it becomes necessary to delve into the profound concept of "vocation." Derived from the Latin word for "calling," vocation exceeds the sheer pursuit of a career; it intertwines with the essence of God's providence and His governance over creation via human endeavors.

Vocation has to do with God's providence and how He governs and cares for His creation by working through human beings. Vocation shows Christians how to live out their faith in their families, churches, and cultures, not just in the workplace. Vocation is where faith bears fruit in acts of love, and so it grows out of the Gospel. Vocation is where Christians struggle with trials and temptations, becoming a means of sanctification.

1 Corinthians 7:17 CSB
”Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches.”

The immediate context of that verse from the Apostle Paul is a discussion not of the workplace but marriage. According to Luther, we have callings in each of the three estates that God created for human life:

Coming up, we will discuss the three estates that God created, plus strategies that empower us to emanate joy from the divine assignments. Use the link below to get a free 7-day trial of Growth Strategy Spotlight and read the rest of this article.