Vocation or Job?
In the business world, it’s easy to lose sight of the sacred. For faith-based leaders especially, the lines between a God-given vocation and a mere job can blur into an indistinguishable, exhausting mess. But what if understanding that distinction isn't just about avoiding burnout, but about unleashing a deeper, more impactful ministry?
In his timeless work, published in 1920, The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods, A.G. Sertillanges, a French Dominican friar, offers a roadmap for leaders committed to a life of purpose and meaningful work. While he speaks of the intellectual, his insights resonate powerfully with the faith-based leader. He argues that true work, the kind that elevates and transforms, demands an almost monastic dedication, a single-minded pursuit of truth and service that transcends the transactional nature of a "job."
The Tyranny of the Urgent vs. The Call of the Eternal
The demands on leaders are increasingly overwhelming. The hours are long. The pressures are many. The energy to show up in excellence is often lost in the exhausting chaos. Our priorities stretch beyond the available hours to pursue them.
For Sertillanges, we are missing a powerful source of energy and inspiration. He champions a life devoted to "a continuous application of the mind and heart to the object of our vocation," which is God. For the leader, this isn't just about theological study; it’s about a relentless pursuit of God's will, an unending surrender to divine purpose. It is our vocation.
This doesn't mean a job isn't important. We all have responsibilities, bills, and realities to manage. As Paul reminds us in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, "If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat." But for the leader aligned with God’s will, a job is more than a means to an end; it is a vehicle through which the deeper, more impactful vocation is expressed.
Vocation: The Divine Calling
Sertillanges emphasizes that a true vocation is something we are "called to," not something we simply "take on." It’s an inner compulsion, a divine direction that leads our steps. For faith-based leaders, this resonates with biblical principles:
Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." This speaks to a pre-ordained purpose, a calling woven into the very fabric of our being.
Ephesians 2:10: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Our vocation is not something we invent; it's something God has already prepared for us to step into.
When we approach our leadership as a vocation, the focus shifts from tasks to transformation, from metrics to spiritual impact. It's about being fully present to God's leading, allowing His will to shape our actions, rather than simply checking off boxes on a to-do list.
Practical Steps to Reclaim Your Calling:
Sertillanges offers several points that, when reframed for the faith-based leader, become powerful tools for living out a vocation rather than just enduring a job:
Cultivate a Spirit of Detachment: For Sertillanges, this means freeing oneself from unnecessary distractions and material possessions that clutter the mind. This could mean intentional breaks from digital overload, setting boundaries around work hours, and discerning what truly serves the core mission of God versus what merely fills time. As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." This reorients our priorities.
Embrace Solitude and Silence: Deep thought and true intellectual work require quiet contemplation. And leaders could benefit from far more contemplation. We are paid to think, strategize, and execute. All require time for thought. We must make time for prayer, meditation, and the study of scripture to nourish our personal spiritual growth to fuel our vocational duties. This is where you hear God’s voice clearest, where your vision is sharpened. Remember Jesus’ example in Mark 1:35: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
Practice Discipleship of the Mind: Continually deepen your biblical literacy by engaging in thoughtful discovery of the Bible’s insight. It is about exploring the wisdom freely given by God. By being lifelong learners, we allow God to continually expand our understanding, enabling us to lead with greater wisdom and insight. Romans 12:2 instructs us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will."
Prioritize Your Primary Role: Sertillanges emphasizes the importance of a single-minded devotion to one's core calling from God. Recognizing that while administrative tasks are necessary, they are secondary to the primary call of leading people into a deeper relationship with God. Your primary role is to do God's will, to be an instrument of His kingdom. Everything else serves this overarching purpose, including our job, role, or season in life. We never leave our given vocation.
When we embrace our vocation as a divine calling, our thinking shifts. The daily grind becomes infused with a sense of sacred meaning. The exhaustion is tempered by a deeper abundance of purpose. Ultimately, the impact on those we lead becomes more meaningful, authentic, and enduring.
We must move beyond simply having a "job" that we tolerate out of financial necessity. It's time to reclaim the sacred, demanding, and fulfilling nature of your calling. When God's will is your primary role, you are not just leading an organization; you are co-creating with the divine, transforming lives, and building the Kingdom. And that, in the truest sense, is what it means to lead with purpose.