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The Christian’s Productivity Paradox

Did you know that productivity can kill you?

It’s possible for you to accomplish great work and be a to-do list ninja, yet lose sight of what matters most.

If you’re a Christian, your approach to productivity is unique. At least that’s what I see in the Bible.

And it disturbs me.

Productivity apps, anyone?

I’m disturbed because I’m an addict. I’m addicted to accomplishment. Are you?

You might be addicted to accomplishment if:

  • You have hard time relaxing, feeling you should be productive
  • You neglect time with Jesus in favor of something “more productive”
  • You check email first thing in the morning
  • You burn both ends of the candle
  • Your spouse feels distant from you
  • You are constantly stressed

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying you should quit your job, give up creating important work, and just lay around with cheese balls and mountain dew, watching 24 reruns.

Only sometimes.

Productivity is not the enemy. It’s all in how you approach it.

The Paradox

I find it helpful to frame the tension with two questions. As far as productivity is concerned:

1. What is my responsibility?

2. What is God’s responsibility?

We’ve all heard the saying: “Work like it depends on You but pray like it depends on God.” Jesus takes it a step further in John 15 and says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

Wait a second. Nothing? “No, Jesus, actually I can do a lot of things without you.”

Or can I?

If Jesus is correct and the Word of God is true, our productivity can never be the same. If you can do nothing apart from abiding steadfastly in Christ, it’s time to get connected.

5 Productivity Tips For Christ Followers

As I was reflecting on Scripture and my own productivity, here’s are 5 insights I discovered:

1. Pursue Weakness

Consider this verse:

“For when I am weak, then I am strong. My power is made perfect in weakness.”

Weakness. Part of a Christian’s approach to productivity is intentional weakness. But this isn’t weakness in the sense of laziness. Or weakness in the sense of no skill. It’s has to do with what you depend on for outcomes.

Is your approach to productivity based entirely upon your output? On your ability to buckle down and work hard? The Apostle Paul worked hard. Probably harder than any of us every will. But he depended on God to accomplish the supernatural through Him. He even delighted in his own weakness.

Why? Because human weakness amplifies God’s strength.

2. Set Your Priorities

Time with Jesus is the most productive thing you can do. But it rarely feels like that. To be honest, ten thousand distractions will pound on your mind’s door every time you step aside to be with Jesus. Without fail.

But you knew that. We know that. We know the barrenness of our time with Jesus. We’d rather race around checking items off a to-do list because who has time to just sit and rest in God’s presence, right?

You can’t afford not to. Let me remind you: spend the best part of your day with Jesus. Read His Word. Sit at His feet and listen.

3. Don’t Work Alone

As an introvert by nature, I like to be alone. But there’s something more important than just secluding yourself and “getting your work done.” It’s investing in other people.

Jesus didn’t need Matthew and Levi and Phillip and Peter to do His miracles. They actually probably hindered Him more than helped him. But He knew that leaving His ministry in the hands of another would extend His influence beyond His own time on earth.

That’s what apprenticeship is all about. And that’s an aspect to productivity that we can’t forget.

4. Abide

The priority of quiet time with Jesus is important, but it doesn’t stop there. We need to abide. In the verse, “Apart from me you can do nothing”, Jesus wasn’t saying you couldn’t do anything. He was saying you can’t do anything of eternal significance.

It takes the presence and power of Jesus to produce life change. Otherwise you’re just spinning wheels, accomplishing tasks. If you abide in the vine, Christ-in-You has the potential to change the world. Believe it. Live it.

How is this done? Slow down and be mindful of your day – mindful that Christ is working through you, not you simply working for Christ.

5. Do What God is Doing

Jesus was productive. It wasn’t just because He was God, creator of productivity. He was productive because He worked on the right things. He only did what He saw the Father doing.

When was the last time you asked this question: “Father, what are you doing? What are you up to in the world?” So often we simply decide what to do, rather than aligning our actions with what is on God’s heart.

So in order to be productive today, ask God what He’s doing. Find what He loves in His Word and go do that. Then you’ll know you’re aligning yourself with the will of God.

Question: What do you think of Jesus’ statement, “Apart from me you can do nothing?” How else are we supposed to approach productivity? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

Comments

  1. Stephanie S. Smith says

    Guilty as charged. You speak a strong word here and one we probably all need to hear. Productivity is the American god and I worship it far often than I would like to admit.

    It’s a good reminder that Jesus spent days away from the crowds, away from the work, to pray and reconnect with the Father. That is where all our work can be grounded.

        • Michaela Garner says

          Both: For some, productivity fules a certain lifestyle. To others, productivity measures personal success.

          Oh my! What a much needed subject matter! I need to clearly define both “productivity” and “what is success”. Not only as it pertains to the corporate worship environment, but also concerning the business/ministry my husband and I are starting.

          We prayed a Sun Stand Still prayer for a family business that would incorporate people living with Down Syndrome(Our youngest daughter had DS). That prayer is being answered by leaps and bounds. Our cup is running over. In comes “The Productivity Paradox”. The business has the potential of producing large quantities and large income. However, as a business/ministry, our mission is to incorporate people living with DS, who may or may not work at a different pace. Do we want to encourage them to a higher level of performance, yes! Do we want to raise the bar on society’s view of DS abilities, yes! Do we want to crank out the work orders and increase our client base, yes! For our own gain, no. To reach and encourage other poele living with DS, yes! Do we need to slow down enough to seek God’s approval, God’s direction, yes!

          I’m already thinking the first 15 minutes of the work day, after clocking in, should be devoted to fellowship with God (over and above personal fellowship time at home).

  3. Ryan Gordon says

    Sigh, well, that was quite the kick in the pants.

    I’ve been obsessed with productivity for the last couple of years. I’ve purchased apps, read books, and picked the brains of productive people to help me improve what I do. But I guess in the grand scheme of things, none of it matters if I’m neglecting what’s most important.

    This post reminds me of Mary and Martha. Even though Martha was a busy bee and productive homemaker, Jesus still said that what Mary chose to do was most important – to sit at his feet and spend time with him.

    I guess I still need to work on finding balance in my work for Christ and time spent with Christ.

    Thanks for the great post and not-so-friendly reminder 🙂

    • David Santistevan says

      It’s a massive tension, Ryan. Being productive is wonderful, yet it’s possible to be productive and NOT glorify God. I’m trying to have a theologically informed, Biblical approach to my work. That doesn’t come naturally to me.

  4. Jeff Pope says

    Great post David. I am definitely struggling here. I worked for 24 years in a furniture factory. I knew when I was going in and when I was coming home. Now, as a worship guy, between meetings, practices and other work ventures that fill my days and nights it’s easy to get lost. I almost feel guilty to spend time with God because I’m not ‘doing’ something. However, I know that if I or anyone else doesn’t get a grip on this then we are ‘doing’ things for God without His involvement. Thanks again for the reminder!

  5. Kathryn Hofer says

    I’ve been discovering the last few years how my bad habits have been destroying my health – in all aspects of my life. It has been a hard and painful journey, but one that I am so glad I have been enduring. I still find balance hard, and fall back on my workaholic, 5 page to do lists on a regular basis. 🙂

    I find that I can easily slip into doing work for God rather than doing work with God – an easy line to cross. So thank you for your real and timely encouragement.

    I was reminded of this truth again yesterday in my reading in Job 34:14-15 “If God took back the breath of life, then everyone living would die and turn into dust”

    As you said in your post, we tend to think we can do lots of things on our own, but the reality is we are only alive because He chooses to use us – what a humbling thought.

    Thank you for the reminder.

    • David Santistevan says

      “Doing work with God rather than doing work for God” – what a great point. That verse in Job is a sobering reminder. Wow. We don’t even breathe on our own, let alone accomplish on our own. Thanks for that, Kathryn!

  6. daryl says

    You caught me!! I love the points of abiding & doing what God is doing. I figure when Jesus said “you can do nothing” He meant nothing of value.

    A while back God showed me that I had made productivity into this false God or idol. It promised to give me so much fulfillment, value, and purpose, and it does for some time, but then it keeps demanding more and more and never gives me anything REAL like God does. I wrote a blog post about it a while ago on my blog I no longer write on, but it’s one of my favorite posts from when I did. 🙂

    http://dbwinger.blogspot.com/2009/10/productivity.html

    Thanks so much for sharing this, David.

      • daryl says

        Thanks for reading it. Well… if you look at the history of that blog, you’ll see that I never really blogged regularly on it. I don’t really have many aspirations as a blogger, or at least if I do, they’re low on the priority list and I’m not productive enough to get that far down on the list! 🙂 I’m trying to learn to do what God’s given me to do now in this season and be okay with not being able to focus on other things I might like to do like blog or write music. I’ll trust Him to lead me into a different season in the future if that’s what He wants.

  7. Adam says

    Who says I’m not accomplishing anything when I’m watching 24 reruns? In my mind, I’m helping Jack save the world! 🙂 Thanks for this post. Lately, Mondays have been tough for me because Sunday evening Drama practices have been stressful. And when Mondays don’t go well, the rest of the week doesn’t go well.
    I will now put down my to-do list (and my distracting computer) and pick up my Bible!