Every day, we talk to Christians who are trying to decide on a career path. Believers want to find a career that positively impacts the world while staying true to their Christian values.

We've seen many Christians struggle with their career planning. We're often asked, "How can I build my career while staying true to my faith?" and "What career does God want for me?" which can feel overwhelming.

But these questions are important. Planning a career that aligns with God's plan is a big task to take on. Without answering these questions, it's easy to feel lost.

We've put together our best advice to help you find a career that aligns with your Christian values and maximizes your social impact.

"God, what should I do with my career?"

Acts 20:35: "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

As Christians, we’ve spent a lot of time exploring what the bible says about career. God's plan for your career involves positively impacting the world around you. He wants you to use the gifts and talents he gave you to serve others.

At Christians For Impact, we specialize in giving career advice to Christians who want to maximize impact and glorify God. Here's our take on how to think about your career path:

1. Prioritize Your Relationship with God

Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." When we align our career goals with God's purpose, He will guide us toward fulfilling our calling.

Your career is one of the most critical choices you'll make in your life. God has a plan for each of us.

So, securing a strong, personal relationship with God is essential before blindly pursuing career options. By prioritizing our faith, we align our hearts with God's will and open ourselves to being receptive to what God is trying to tell us.

We've seen firsthand how a solid relationship with God can provide clarity in our careers.

2. Identify Your Gifts and Talents

Understanding our unique God-given gifts and talents is essential in understanding the career that God has planned for us.

1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."

The Bible emphasizes the importance of using our God-given abilities for His glory.

We should not bury our talents or compare them to others. God wants us to use them to their fullest potential for the benefit of His kingdom.

Reflect on your strengths and interests. How can they be used to make a difference?

3. Open Your Mind to God's Plan

Sometimes, God's plan for us differs from what we originally envisioned. We see this in personal experience as Christian career mentors— sometimes what our mentee thought was theirour ideal paths often turned out to be stepping stones to something greater.

Proverbs 19:21 reminds us, "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Trust that God's plan is wise, and be open to His guidance.

**Samuel - Christians For Impact Mentee**

"My name is Samuel Verbi and as of two weeks ago I am one of the new vice presidents of Generation Pledge… I will be helping wealth inheritors be more impactful with their philanthropy and giving.
There's no question that it's unlikely that I would be in this position had it not been for the partnership with Christians for Impact and particularly with JD…
I thoroughly recommend Christians for Impact to anyone who is interested in increasing your impact in your career."

4. Seek Counsel and Christian Career Guidance

Seeking advice from others can provide valuable perspectives and support. Guidance from trusted advisors can help us turn our ideas into a plan.

We recommend that you seek mentors within the Christian community. Christian career mentors understand how our career choices interact with God's purpose.

We've helped many Christians navigate their paths with faith and purpose. If you're unsure where to start, our free career consultations can help.

5. Evaluate the Impact of Your Career

As Christians, we are called to be a light in the world and use our work to serve others.

Hebrews 6:10: "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."

Consider how your career can make a meaningful impact.

Reflect on how your career can address key global problems and contribute positively to society.

Matthew 9:37 speaks to this: "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few."

We find the ITN Framework (Importance, Tractability, Neglectedness) useful for finding high-impact paths. Look for career opportunities where:

Importance: There is the most opportunity to serve others
Neglectedness: There are too few resources working on the issue
Tractability: You can apply the talents and gifts God has given you to serve His kingdom. You're likely to have a meaningful impact on the cause.

Through our research, we have found that some causes are exceptionally high potential.

1. Spiritual Darkness 🌑
Over a billion people do not know Jesus.

2. Extreme Poverty 💔
Over 600 million people live in extreme poverty.

3. Disease 🦠
About 5 million children die of preventable diseases every year.

4. Nuclear War ☢️
The risk of nuclear war is currently at its highest in decades.

5. Pandemics 💉
Tens of millions of people can die to a single novel pandemic.

6. Climate Change 🌏
Hundreds of millions of people could become newly exposed to climate-related risks and poverty.

7. Animal Cruelty 🐖
Billions of animals suffer in US factory farms, even though God commanded stewardship and kind treatment

8. Policy 🏛️
There exist massive bipartisan opportunities to pass laws that spread justice and kindness (Micah 6:8).

You can learn more about these causes in our problem profiles.

6. Balance Career with Other Important Parts of Life

Think about how your career might affect your relationship with God. Prioritize your wellbeing in a job that doesn't conflict with your faith or relationships. Ensure that your career allows you to find peace and balance with God.

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

1 Timothy 5:8 says, "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Choose a career that supports your overall wellbeing and values.

7. Incorporate Prayer and Wait on the Lord

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." Regular prayer helps us stay connected with God and seek His guidance. Patience is key—trust that God will reveal His plan in His timing.

Conclusion: Aligning Your Career with God's Plan

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Building a career that aligns with God's plan involves faith, self-awareness, and intention. Prioritize your relationship with God. Reflect on the gifts He gave you. Think about how you can serve His kingdom. Trust God's plan for you and be open to His guidance.

If you're looking for personalized advice on how to build a career that serves others, we offer free career consultations. We can help you navigate this journey with God. Apply today to discover how you can make a meaningful impact in the world with your career as a Christian.

How to Build An Impactful Career That Aligns With God’s Plan