The Vocation Of Business

Ryan T. Anderson on The Call Of The Entrepreneur--a new film touting the moral and theological benefits of buisiness--at FIRST THINGS:

That we in the United States live in a commercial society is no reason to complain. In fact, it's a reason to be grateful, for commercial societies have increased the standard of living for more people, raising more out of poverty, than any other societies in history. In this way, business truly can be a vocation.

Of course, there are particular moral pitfalls that can beset businessmen. While it acknowledges these-and correctly notes that they are not unique to business; the world has greedy and corrupt lawyers, politicians, and doctors, too--the film doesn't do enough to stress the moral principles that should guide business.

It is not enough simply to create better products and meet new needs. The moral virtues that guide all the rest of life--justice, honesty, charity--must govern economic life as well. Truth in advertising, production of products that truly ennoble (even when products that entice our darker side may be more profitable), care for employees, and good stewardship of one's wealth in consumption and charitable giving could have been more thoroughly stressed in the movie.

Nonetheless, pastors and priests will benefit from viewing "The Call of the Entrepreneur" and inserting some of its themes into their sermons, for it provides the framework for a discussion of the challenges of business life.

UPDATE: For a different perspective on the real meaning of vocation and its decline in the modern age, you should check out The Listening Heart by A.J. Conyers. I'm currently reading the book and although it is a bit of a slog, its challenging and thought-provoking.