What Does the Bible Say About Productivity?

Productivity is simply the art of training oneself to accomplish the right thing/s in the best way. Between planners, life-hacks, and apps, it seems like everyone has a sure-fire way to make oneself productive as possible. It seems like Christian leaders talk a lot about productivity. There is a lot of anecdotal wisdom in some of this, but is productivity something the Bible itself addresses? Is this a concept invented by management gurus to harvest whatever gnats they can squeeze out of the noses of their cubicular tenants—and are Christians just bandwagoning?

I believe Scripture gives some principles that matter a great deal for how to get good things done in good ways.

First, Scripture tells us that we should live all of life for the glory of God. Paul instructs the Colossians, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ,” (Col 3:23–24, cf. 3:17). Christians should work hard because they have a master in heaven, and they will receive the due inheritance. So, the goal of all productivity should be to bring praise and glory to God. Well says the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever (1 Cor 10:31; Rom 11:36; Ps 73:25–28).”

Second, productivity largely falls under the eighth commandment. The eighth commandment is that we should not steal (Ex 20:15). Says Paul, “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need,” (Eph 4:28). When Christians are redeemed, they no longer should set what talents and capacities they have for taking from others, but rather should labor honestly with their own hands, in order that they might have something to share with others. We glorify God when we bless others through our labor. We work to be generous (Prov 19:6–7, 21:25–26). We work and labor hard not to generate wealth for our own enjoyment, but to bless our families, our churches, our communities. This is the example our Lord gave us (2 Cor 8:9).

Productivity—doing the right things in the right way—means working honestly (i.e., not wasting time) in order that we might bless others. We ought not work on being productive in order to boost our own ego and further our own selfish ambitions but rather to serve others. Productivity is about love, not only for God but for neighbor.

Third, the Bible instructs us to use what time we have wisely rather than foolishly. Paul tells the Ephesians to consider how they might make the best use of their time so they would not be fools (Eph 5:15–17). Tomorrow is not promised; to presume upon its existence is arrogant and foolish (James 4:13–17; Provides 27:1). We all ought to pray with the Psalmist, “teach us to number our days,” (Ps 90:10). If we are productive, we will remember that we are finite. We should make what days God has given us count.

Fourth, Christians should use their resources today to prepare for scarcity tomorrow. The Proverbs warns the rich man that riches do not last forever (Prov 27:23–24). Rather, the rich man should invest in healthy herds, for in the days when money fades, lambs provide clothing and goats can be used to barter (Prov 27:23–27). This, of course, has implications for the resource of time. Using our time well today should make life more enjoyable in the future. This would seem to render procrastination and various ways to distract ourselves from work foolish. In other words, productivity should prepare us for the days ahead. Suffering is coming. Can we live in such a way today to make ourselves resilient tomorrow? How?

Fifth, the work we have to do is God’s gift which should cause us to rejoice. It is not to be forgotten that God is the one who gives us work to do. Ecclesiastes 5:18–20 says, “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” God gives to each their toil and labor. It is a good thing to rejoice in such toil for that reason. By being productive, we allow ourselves to accomplish more things efficiently, and, therefore, give ourselves more cause to rejoice in the God who gave us these tasks to do.