Until quite recently, I was a firm believer that 'productivity' was worldly.
As I looked critically around me, I found that people wore ‘busyness’ as a badge of honour. I, for one, didn’t want to get sucked into that trap of trying to prove myself through my performance. As a Christian, wasn’t I 'above' that?
I had bought into the perspective that I shouldn’t set goals for myself, as that would make me too task-oriented. I was wary of being defined by metrics and performance indicators.
I may have even crafted some Instagram posts about how, as Christians, we aren’t called to be productive—but to be fruitful.
Unfortunately, fruitfulness tends to be slightly nebulous. While, of course, Galatians 5 describes the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control, I couldn’t practically weave those elements into my daily schedule. Those fruit were borne through deepening faith. They were meant to be a natural outpouring—not manufactured emotions.
As weeks and months passed by, without a set of defined goals, I found myself becoming complacent, even lazy.
I was easily distracted by all the beeps and buzzes on my phone. I flitted absentmindedly from one task to another. I scrolled my social media feed like I was training for an Olympic sport. I visited the snack drawer in my kitchen like it was my closest confidant.
My days and weeks started to blur together. I was adrift on a sea of purposelessness (a tad dramatic but true). As my productivity plunged, so did my sense of passion for my calling.
I realized that my lack of productivity was far from God-honouring.
Instead of dismissing productivity as culture-driven, I began to think Biblically about it. The theological concept of “You are not your own; for you were bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) seeped into how I viewed my time and my resources.
Productivity was no longer a bad word.
It was about seeing time, talents, and treasures as gifts from God.
It was about seeing myself as a steward of the resources God had given me.
It was about making the most of every opportunity.
It was about walking in the good works God had prepared for me to do.
It was about glorifying God through my daily habits.
'Christian productivity' might sound somewhat awkward. But it is distinct from culture’s productivity—primarily because of the goals.
In the culture’s version, productivity helps you be the best version of yourself.
In the Christian interpretation, productivity helps you become who God created you to be. So, ultimately, you can glorify Him through the gifts He has given you.
Thanks to this renewed mindset, for the last few seasons, I’ve been organizing my days and praying for a sense of daily purpose. I’ve started to see all my goals—whether related to fitness, work, health, or home—as a way to honour God.
If you have been in a season or seasons of aimless drifting, could I encourage you to pause and pray? Ask God to reignite your passion and purpose so you don’t give in to procrastination. Ask Him to order your priorities. Ask Him for the gift of productivity. And as He answers, walk in humble obedience to Him.
While my track record is far from perfect, I am more intentional about how I use my time and resources. It’s my prayer that you and I will learn to “number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). May we choose to redeem productivity so we glorify God rather than magnify ourselves. May we long to hear those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23) from the One who gives us each day as a gift.
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