When Christians go asking about personal matters to the elders of their local assemblies, it is important to keep in mind that any decision made by elders is based on their respective knowledge and maturity. Elders do not have a direct access or divine revelation from heaven. Elders base their opinions and decisions from their life experiences and level of Bible knowledge. Thus, Christians should take what they say as pieces of ADVICE, something to accept or reject, and not a COMMAND.
There was this particular elder who told one believer not to work under a union company because he believed that it is not the will of the Lord for any Christian to be under such a company. He pushed his stand to the fellow Christian, telling him not to be under a union time and time again. So what was a personal conviction for the elder became a command to the believer who was annoyed to obey him. Needless to say, this did not help the Christian in his spiritual life.
What the elders say is not a definite answer from heaven but only a piece of advice coming from their personal view. They do not have the final word on anything and everything. Only doctrines are the definite instructions from heaven written in the New Covenant for us to do and practice.
In making decisions for the matters of this life, we, as Christians, should rely on ourselves and not to somebody else. "...for it is necessary in the nature of the case for all of us to be openly shown as to our true character before the judgment seat of Christ, in order that each one may receive the things which were practiced through the agency of our body whether they were good or bad," 2 Corinthians 5:10.