This was defended not only by political and economic power but also by theological claims of divine election. (religion-online.org)
Success in business was taken as a mark of divine election. (religion-online.org)
According to the apostolic witness, the call to holiness begins with divine election: God's summons to Israel, and later to the Church, to be a holy nation, a people set apart as God's own treasured possession, called to worship, witness, and good works (see Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 2:9). (firstthings.com)