How to Decide About Your Next Job

Tomorrow I go to my second shift of my first job. Deciding on this particular job was not difficult for me, even though I had other options. I was excited about the integrity of the company, the products they sell, the type of people I'd be working with, the discount (I know, I'm pathetic), the hours they offered, the opportunity for evangelism, the tasks I'd be involved in, and the chance to glorify God through the new experience in my life.

A week and a half into September, about a week and a half before I had my first interview with this job, I came upon an article by John Piper that gave me some gentle, encouraging counsel. Whether you're looking for your first or third or tenth job, he provides some rich advice on deciding about that next job.

In 1997 I put a list of Bible texts together to help folks think through what job to pursue. Below I have taken that list and added comments to flesh out more specifically what I had in mind. 

My prayer is that these thoughts will help saturate your mind with the centrality of Christ in all of life. He made you to work. And he cares about what you do with the half of your waking life called “vocation.” He wants you to rejoice in it. And he wants to be glorified in it. 

May the Lord position you strategically in the workplace, as only he can when his people care deeply about these kinds of questions.

Piper asks twelve questions ranging from "Does the aim of this job cohere with a growing intensity in your life to be radically, publicly, fruitfully devoted to Christ at any cost?" to "Will the job feel like a good investment of your life when these 'two seconds' of preparation for eternity are over?" to "Is taking this job part of a strategy to grow in personal holiness?"

Read and be edified.