What does the Bible teach about Productivity?
What does the Bible teach about Productivity?
When we read the word, “productive,” we most often think in terms of business, career, job, or workplace. Defining productivity often depends on who you talk to and what the culture is.
For example:
- A trash collector is productive if he/she completes their route in the time allotted and can deposit it at the city dump without incident.
- A bank teller is productive if he/she successfully handles all the transactions brought to them during the day.
- A fast-food cook is productive if he/she prepares the food correctly for all the orders given to them in a timely manner.
- A school teacher is productive if they simply survive the day (you know it’s true).
Productivity is a part of our everyday lives and it’s ok to ask God to bless us in that area.
And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!
Psalm 90:17
The big question is: What will we do with our success if God blesses us?
Rick Warren wrote the NY Times best-selling book, Purpose Driven Life (now retitled, What On Earth Am I Here For?) to bring clarity to that question. The first sentence in his book is:
“It’s not about you.”
Ask God to bless you in your job but understand that He will do so with a larger purpose in mind than just your financial or material success.
Yes, as a loving parent, He wants to give good things to His children, but His greater purpose is to use your success to draw others to Himself. (Side Note: He will also use your failures to draw others to Himself but that’s a story for another post.)
As He blesses us, God expects us to intentionally remain connected to Him so that He can produce “fruit” in our lives.
Read John 15:1-8.
Jesus was talking about how we (the branches) must remain connected to God (the vine) or we will not be able to produce “fruit.” Here, fruit is defined as the qualities of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
These qualities are essential to being productive in whatever you do. They are both character qualities and real evidences of a life that is solidly connected to the main vine.
This is why we believe that we should pursue productivity in every area of our lives; personal, spiritual, work, church, school, and more.
Why? Because God is invested in every area of your life, not just your time at church, in personal worship, or in Bible studies. Everything about you is important to Him just like it’s important to you.
True productivity involves who you are in addition to what you can accomplish. Stay connected.
Check this out: 5 Faith-Based Productivity Hacks