Taking a job that will result in debt

[duckhugger]

I'm new to this forum so this may have been covered before. My apologies if it has.

My question is, as Christians, what responsibility do we have to make decisions which ensure our own financial healthiness?

As background: I'm single and in my 40s. Over the past while, I've felt called to change careers from my current well-paying government job to a much lower paying job in the private sector which will provide more of an opportunity to help others. Last year, I was approached by a company to work for them but when I took a cold hard look at the salary they were offering against moving expenses, basic living expenses (food, transportation, shelter etc.), some debt I owed, and some other anticipated outlays (I planned to take a training course to enhance my skills), the result was that within a short period of time I would be in debt and facing a significant period of repayment.

At the time, I prayed a lot about the decision and came to the concusion that it was not responsible to take a job that could result in me facing further debt.

Since that time, I have payed off the debt I owed, created a bit of a safety cushion, have completed the education I wanted to take and am in a position to take the kind of job I feel called to do and live comfortably, but not lavishly. I'm also currently working in the new field on a part-time basis in the evenings in order to continue to develop skills.

I guess I'm a bit troubled about my decision. I've had a few people tell me that I should have taken the job last year and trusted that God would have made everything alright and that perhaps no other opportunity will present itself because I passed this up.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Gary Barzel]

I believe that everything happens for a reason, and the fact that you didn't take that job is no reason for you to feel you made the wrong decision. You prayed a lot and the fact that you didn't take that job could be as a result of your prayers. You are right now in a much better position then you were then. Now that your in a good situation you can look for a way to compensate that opportunity of being in a position to help others.