Perhaps the best thing would be not to seek God’s direct guidance in making a career choice at all.

Instead, I suggest you focus on reading the Bible to discern God’s guidance (it is His word, after all) in those things where He does explicitly guide man. Put another way, consider those things that God wants us to do to make us more like Him – more holy – and those things that He wants us to do to make us more worthy of salvation – less sinful.

Review, also, Jesus’ teachings on what it is we should be seeking from God, and what we should do in our own lives to come closer to God.

Also consider your responsibilities to your family (if you have one) – wife, children, etc. – and to your community and church.

Then, looking at your different career options, consider all aspects of them: what each expects you to do, the general ethics of each employer, etc., and rate each one according to how closely performing that particular job for that particular employer will allow you to come to meeting your own spiritual goals of sanctification and salvation.

I would even set up a kind of spreadsheet or matrix, with the various aspects of each job on one axis, and the various spiritual aspects on the other. Then put a numerical rating in the box where each intersects: for example, “Employer’s ethical practises” on one axis, and “Conformity with God’s commandments” on the other – and the number would be a rating of how closely the Employer’s ethical practises conform with God’s commandments. Similarly, “Potential remuneration” on the one axis, and “Responsibility to support family” on the other – and again, rate the potential remuneration in terms of how close it comes to enabling you to support your family (or contribute to its support) – meets, or exceeds.

I think if you start breaking down your options into these smaller considerations, the problem will not only start seeming far less overwhelming, but you will be able to more directly apply the vast amount of guidance God has already given to all of us in the Scriptures to your particular dilemma.

KM