In the last installment of this series, we covered choosing a career path that fits you, whether it involves a college degree, trade school or getting into a career that doesn't require additional education. Most people find there are several areas that are of interest to them and that fit their basic personality and aptitudes.

 Some of you may be very talented in sports, music or art. Perhaps mathematics or science fits your interests and aptitudes. Maybe mechanics, construction or some area of engineering meets those criteria for you. The Dictionary of Occupational Titles, available in most libraries in the United States, lists over 28,000 job titles, with many choices in any given field. For example, there are 16 different job titles for "art" with another nine for "artists." They include entries for various types of art as well—ranging from artist supplies to commercial and medical artists. The same is true in almost every general area of interest.

The U.S. Census Bureau switched to the North American Industry Classification System for its year 2000 census. The new system lists industry groups that are the same in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The list can be viewed online at www.census.gov/hhes/www/ioindex/index.html.

Again there are many job titles for each general area of interest, with over 31,000 occupational titles. This generally means there is a wide range of jobs available in almost any field in which a person has interest. How can you narrow down the field further to know what direction to head in life? In this issue we'll cover several keys to consider when trying to "narrow the field" within one or more areas of interest.

Choose a career that will be in demand

One item to consider is the fact that some jobs are projected to have large increases in the number of people employed, while others are projected to have smaller increases or perhaps even declines. This doesn't mean that there will be no need for people in the areas that show less growth, but it indicates there will probably be greater competition for the jobs that become available. It is therefore wise to look for areas that will have greater needs in the future instead of struggling to compete for a job that may be hard to get.

Proverbs 27:12 says, "A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks, and suffers the consequences" (Living Bible). For more information on careers that are projected to be the fastest growing through the year 2008, see the archives section of Youth United; the October 2000 issue has an article by Mike Bennett titled "Careers in the New Millennium" that gives more detail on the hottest job fields as well as additional tips on charting your career path.

Choose a career that complements Christianity

A second key is to make sure whatever career you choose agrees with God's instructions. It would indeed be foolish to get to this point in planning your life and then choose a career that sounds good and has a lot of growth potential but is at odds with how God wants us to live. We're admonished in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Put all your trust in the Lord and do not rely on your own understanding. At every step you take keep him in mind, and he will direct your path" (Revised English Bible).

Some careers might have the potential to provide great rewards, but would involve activities that violate God's law. Some obvious examples of that would be drug dealer, thief, con artist or an athlete required to break God's law about keeping the seventh-day Sabbath holy.

God gave King Solomon of ancient Israel great wisdom. Some of this divine wisdom is illustrated in Solomon's observation: "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain" (Psalm 127:1, Revised Standard Version). This verse is not referring to the structural stability of a building. This verse is focusing on much more important principles and concepts than that.

The builders of the pyramids did not know the God of the Bible, yet the structures they erected still stand as a marvel of the architectural genius of past years. In contrast, however, the world dominant empire for which those buildings were assembled has long since lost its power and grandeur, proving that without God's involvement and blessing, even the greatest of humanity will not have lasting success. Through the pages of the Bible, God offers those who will obey Him the chance to be part of a kingdom that will cover the whole earth (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45) and last forever (Daniel 2:44; 7:18). Who wouldn't like to be given a part in a kingdom like that?

Some might think such a goal is out of reach, or that it is a bit too far in the future to be of immediate concern. God has quite a different perspective. He tells us that godliness is profitable for all time—both now in this present life, as well as in the future (1 Timothy 4:8). Those who seek Him and follow the advice He gives us in His Word, the Bible, are promised great blessings both now and in the future. So asking for God's direction and considering His perspective on our career choices is one of the smartest things we can do. It can bring benefits that last for eternity.

Besides not setting goals that are immoral or against God's law, what other considerations should be made? Though most people today don't realize it, Jesus Christ will return to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God referred to in the book of Daniel. At that time, the saints will be given eternal life at Christ's return (1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Those who live over into that Kingdom as human beings who already know God and practice His way of life will be in an excellent position to help rebuild a world that will have been ravaged by the plagues and wars described in the book of Revelation. For help in understanding the message Jesus taught about that coming Kingdom, see our booklet titled The Gospel of the Kingdom. If you want to understand the book of Revelation, please read our booklet The Book of Revelation Unveiled.

If you want to take the most forward-looking approach to deciding on a career, why not consider how your choices will fit into that coming Kingdom? If the Kingdom comes anywhere in the near future, those who are just entering the job market may well be in a position to use their skills to help build the kind of world human visionaries and leaders have dreamed about for centuries. It is described as a world in which even the animals will be at peace and the world will be full of the knowledge of God (Isaiah 11:6-9).

In this coming world, nations will turn from developing instruments of war to creating machinery conducive to peace (Isaiah 2:2-4). Crop yields and productivity will soar to new heights and cities will be rebuilt (Amos 9:13-14). This does not imply that everyone will need to be in the fields of agriculture and construction, because a whole new society will be created. There will be a need for all kinds of job skills, from engineers to teachers to artists, just to name a few. In this coming Kingdom, those following God's instructions now will become teachers and supervisors (Revelation 5:10).

Asking yourself how a potential career choice now could contribute positively to the process of establishing or functioning in a whole new society based on godly principles shows great foresight. Be sure you are not "building your house" on your own, but have the backing and support of God in an endeavor that is truly in line with His thinking.

Next time, in the fourth and final installment of this series, we'll consider how to avoid artificial limitations to success and how to develop a network of friends to assist you in your career. YU