I must admit, I am a list person. I enjoy making lists to keep myself organized. But what I enjoy most about my lists is crossing off the items I complete. Sometimes I will actually write a “To Do” down that I just completed, just to be able to cross it off my list. I know that lists in and of themselves don’t equate to productivity, but they make me feel productive.
I have contemplated productivity lately. What does it mean to be productive? In my work, home, spiritual life…. What is it? Is productivity being busy? Is it about accomplishing a lot? How do we know if we are productive?
Created to be fruitful
The truth is God created us to be productive (the word is actually ‘fruitful’). The Bible says in Genesis 1:28:
‘And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”’
We are called to have dominion over creation. Create, multiply, be fruitful.
In other words, God wants us to work and accomplish things for the betterment of our life, others’ lives, and the world we live in.
The challenge for us comes in that, like many things, the idea of productivity has gotten twisted. It’s been turned into a competitive, self-fulfilling, wealth-storing, output-measuring, efficiency-worshipping concept. Productivity has become a measurement of our value, rather than a result of our stewardship.
As we strive to honor God in our work and life, here are 4 thoughts regarding our productivity.
1.God made you to do good works.
You weren’t made to sit around idle and do nothing. You were made to work.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
God made each of us with special abilities, skills, gifts, and talents to DO GOOD to others and to serve God.
2. Productivity is about more than work
We often think about productivity as the thing that happens from 9am – 5pm each day. Your job. Your career. But that is inaccurate. While productivity certainly involves our jobs, it is also so much more.
We can do good in all of life. In fact, we are called to do good in all of life.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says:
‘Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’
If we can even eat and drink—most basic human essentials—for the glory of God, how much more can we glorify God in our friendships, in our parenting, in our hobbies, in our social media, and in our care for others?
Productivity is more than work. Being productive is effectively stewarding all you have been given—gifts, talents, time, energy—for the good of others and the glory of God in every area of life.
3. Productivity is not about getting a lot done
This can be a tough one for us. In our minds being productive and fruitful is about accomplishing lots of things. Our volume of activity. However, a better way to look at it is this: Productivity isn’t about getting the most things done, but rather getting the right things done.
What’s the right things you might ask?
The right thing is whatever fulfills God’s design for you in that moment. During that day. It’s the ‘good works’ you’ve been called to. The things that move you along the path that God has for your life, skills, time, and purposes. Productivity is actually connected to prioritising, which leads to the final point.
4. Productivity is about connectivity
Jesus was the most productive person on earth. We also read through the gospel’s that Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16).
The key to Jesus’ productivity was connecting to God the Father. Hearing His words of affirmation. Resting in His identity. Being filled with His truth. Submitting to His ways. That’s the same for us as well.
Friends, your fruitfulness in work, home, parenting, or any area of life is directly linked to your connectivity (John 15). When you abide and connect with God, you will produce good fruit.
Fruitful Joy
The connected life is a fruitful life. May you steward all God has given you this week and be filled with the joy of living, walking, and serving according to God’s plans and purposes for you. You were made to be productive, made to be fruitful, for God’s glory.
Growth Point:
Being productive is not about getting lots down or accomplishing great tasks but rather connecting to God and living in fruitful stewardship.
Scripture Point:
Read John 15. Consider the promises that are given in this chapter.
Action Point:
Spend time connecting with God this week asking Him to help you prioritise and steward your time, energy, and skills. Commit your lists to God and ask for the fruitfulness that God promises in John 15.
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