Biblical Understanding of Productivity

Service Notes

Jason Holt preaches for us tonight and will lead us in the Lord’s Supper

Let me encourage you to take that Next Step in your Christian walk on Celebration Sunday, January the 28th

Bible Reading Introduction

Today’s Bible Reading is from Ephesians 4

You know those goofy people who believe their is something about a New Year? A new opportunity to start over! Yes, I am one of them. I have been carrying around a purple, gallon size water bottle all week. (1) To drink the water my wife says I need. (2) it’s purple because it was on sale and I have made a resolution to not spend money on things I won’t use for long.

Today I will encourage you to redeem the time.

This is not something I picked up from the latest book on productivity.

This will not be a Christian alternative telling you how to push to the front, by creating atomic habits, so that you go from Good to Great, as you Win Friends and Influence People or you Decide the Color of Your Parachute, as you become the Smarter, Faster, Person you were meant to be in 2024.

We will look at God’s Word to see how the gospel should shape our understanding of living a productive life.

Ephesians 4:1 “1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,”

In this regard all believers share the same vocation today.

The calling has been shown in the first 3 chapters.

This life is the a holy, productive life.

What is productivity? Productivity is yielding to the Holy Spirit in my life as I live out the Gospel demonstrated in a life of good work.

Ephesians 5:15–18 (KJV)

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (read together)

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Here are three things I believe we should see today from the Text

A careful walk requires taking intentional steps to redeem the time.

Intentional steps require applying God’s Word to our lives.

We need divine, help to be productive in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord

Pastoral Prayer

Time with the Holts and their return

Those who are sick

Those who have lost their way

Sermon Introduction

For many years I wore busyness like a badge of honor.

Came to this realization that being busy is the lowest bar to reach in regards to being productive.

Busyness does not mean I am diligent

Busyness does not mean I am faithful

Busyness does not mean I am fruitful

We say we hate being busy but we are afraid to be anything else.

I do not think that I am alone.

Seen in the thousands of books on productivity and Self Help on Amazon.

Seen in the Mental Health Crisis in our nation

Why isn’t busyness the key to productivity.

We can be busy in practicing sin – In Jeremiah’s day it is said people would “weary themselves to commit iniquity” Jeremiah 9:5

We can be busy in things that aren’t the right priority for the moment – Ask Martha who was busy serving when Jesus came by to visit

We can be busy and miss out on invitations from our King. – In the parable of the marriage feast, Jesus described the king’s invitation being sent out that was rejected in the name of being busy. Matthew 22:5 “5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:”

A careful walk requires taking intentional steps to redeem the time.

We are to take great, care about the way we live.

Ephesians 5:15 “15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,”

1. Time brings us to a constant place of decision

Circumspectly; accurately, carefully

An deliberate walk is a theme in the Bible

Jeremiah 9:14 “14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:”

Walk in wisdom - Colossians 4:5 “5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”

See then calls us to stop, collaborate, look and listen. (90s kids)

If you took time to evaluate your schedule, habits, and investments this year. Great! This is a holy endeavor!

Here are three lies I have found in regards to productivity

Lie #1: Talking about productivity isn’t spiritual. That’s carnal talk. . Matthew 5:16 “16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

“… we think that because we’re…Christian…we do not have to be concerned about productivity. On the contrary, our calling as Christians is the highest calling there is, and the idea of being productive is not the invention of capitalism, it is the mandate of Christ.” RC Sproul

Lie #2: Being concerned about being more productive is just a hobby for professionals. Titus 2:14 “14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Lie #3: Productivity only applies to getting things done. Hebrews 10:24 “24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”

2. The possibility of acting unwise is there

Ephesians 5:17 “17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

We have been given insight into ever insight of life. This refers to all that had been taught prior to this verse. Ephesians 4:18 “18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”

Anyone want to give some examples of unwise ways to spend your time?

We can live out the will of the Lord. What a privilege!

3. Walk being aware of the season

The word “time” here speaks of seasons.

Something that provides new, time-constrained opportunities.

A. What does it mean to redeem the time?

Redeem means to buy back.

This is the opposite of “killing time.”

B. Reasons we might expect to be told to redeem the time.

Redeem the time it is limited.

'Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.' - Benjamin Franklin

Many of you are old enough to know this, but it is true for us all.

Redeem the time for it is short and could end expectantly.

Life is a vapor.

Appointed time for us all to die.

Redeem the time because you have decisions to make.

A happy or miserable eternity depends on your use of it. This was a major themes for Jonathan Edwards during the Great Awakening.

How we spend out time is something that we will carry with us into eternity.

Redeem the time because it does not belong to us but to the Creator.

Lego Illustration / what is the difference between a new box of legos and an old bucket of legos.

C. New motivator given; days are evil.

Seasonal opportunities: Like pumpkin spice, time with your aging parents, unexpected ministry opportunities, the McRib

Some of you remember prayer in school

Some of you will look back and remember when FCA and other groups could meet

Redeem the time!!

You have kids in your home in an environment you can help influence

Kids will be grown and be in a world opposed to the things of God

Redeem the time!!

Transitional Statement: Why do we undervalue time so often? We forget that God has a plan for our lives for His glory. (Lego Example)

Intentional steps require applying God’s Word to our lives.

Ephesians 5:17 “17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

1. Important question: What is the will of God?

The will of God is not hidden in the Bible, but it is hid from those who do not listen to the Bible.

Romans 12:1–2 “1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

God has a plan and design for our bodies revealed in His Word.

Do not believe the physical use of your body is separate from your spiritual life.

Recognize your entire being to God is the reasonable decision.

God has a plan and design for our minds revealed in His Word.

How do you know you aren’t drifting with the world.

We need to be anchor in God’s Word

God has a plan and design for the use of our time revealed in His Word.

This plan includes other people. Ephesians 5:18–21 “18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

This is a radically different picture of productivity than the world would give you.

Thought of redeeming time as protecting it from people. One of the things that frustrates me and many people is other people wasting my time. How am I supposed to maximize my time when everyone around me seems dead-set on wasting it?  Do they not know?  Do they not care? Story of yelling in the car “You are not going to cause me to waste my life.”

We should be looking to minimize our need people tasks to maximize our time with people. Galatians 6:10 “10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

2. Reminder: “The will of the Lord” is not just part of our Sunday morning vocabulary.

James 4:13–15 “13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

Yes, God is concerned with you being here today but He remains interested in you throughout the week.

Christian walk is not a weekend hobby like pickle ball.

On whatever day you read God’s Word you should be asking how to apply it on that day. / In the office, working from home, in the car line, etc

3. Because we have been redeemed we can redeem the time!

We were created for God’s glory but were blinded to this truth. The Gospel brought us this realization!

We saw in Titus that God has set us apart now as a peculiar people. Titus 2:14 “14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

In the story with my wife, redeeming time was not saving time to be used at a later time. It was redeeming that moment. It was responding in a way that the Gospel demands of my life.

Let’s Stop and Review

Productivity Catechism

Let’s prepare for the Pop-Quiz called Monday morning. If you don’t like the word catechism just called this Bible Trivia.

Q1. Ultimately, why did God create you?

A. God created me to bring glory to him.

Q2. How can you glorify God in your day-to-day life?

A. I can glorify God in my day-to-day life by doing good works.

Q3. What are good works?

A. Good works are deeds done for the glory of God and the benefit of other people.

Q4. But you are a sinful person. Can you actually do good works?

A. Yes. Christians are able to do good works because of the finished work of Christ.

Q5. In what areas of life should you emphasize good works?

A. I ought to emphasize good works at all times and in all areas of life.

Q6. What is productivity?

A. Productivity is yielding to the Holy Spirit in my life as I live out the Gospel demonstrated in a life of good work.

Footnote 1

Story of William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce was one of the most productive and interesting persons I have ever read about.

The banner that waves over his whole life is that “he lived to do good.”

He was so prolific in doing good that his biographers and friends noted that “he lacked time for half the good works in his mind”2 and that “factories did not spring up more rapidly in Leeds and Manchester than schemes of benevolence beneath his roof.”

As is well known, chief among his good works was the massive social good of bringing an end to the slave trade and, ultimately, slavery itself in the British Empire.

He loved the Lord. - Quoted Psalm 119 as he walked from his home to parliament.

He wrote an book about justification.

"Surely the principles of Christianity lead to action as well as meditation."

Summary: Based upon my understanding of justification (what God has done for me) and my understanding of the opportunity to do good for others (fight the slave trade) my life has not other option but to take this course. He redeemed the time.

We need divine, help to be productive in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord

Ephesians 5:18 “18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

1. Pursuing productivity and efficiency without God is unwise

A .Can you be more any more committed to a cause than setting yourself on fire?

1 Corinthians 13:3 “3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

Nothing is less productive than to make more efficient what should not be done at all. —Peter Drucker

B. Can you be more efficient than having people lined up to receive your Biblical counsel?

Story of Moses and father-in-law. Exodus 18:18 “18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.”

Even in a good work, we can go about it in a way that is not what God would have for us.

C. God-honoring productivity cannot be accomplished outside of submission to God’s will

God is only pleases with what He produces in and through us.

He is the vine, we are the branches. Matthew 1:29

So are you saying I could even be doing good stuff but not being truly productive in a manner that pleases God? This is impossible. I need help? I have good news for you.

2. The Holy Spirit is our needed divine, helper.

John 14:16“16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

I dont use Greek often. For many reasons. Dr. Pelletier at TMU can give one give reason. But this word here is encouraging and I want you to see a fuller meaning.

paraklet.“one called to the side of another”;

This is not just teaching about alcohol.

This is a statement that says we must yield our lives to the Holy Spirit if we want to live productive lives that are pleasing to the Lord!

Transitional Statement: True productivity in the life of a believer is the result of Spirits work of sanctification in our lives.

Closing Story: Man on the front of the boat.

You need the ask the Holy Spirit to help you evaluate your pace.

It is called a walk, not a sprint. But it is also called a walk, not a sit.

Many of us have let everyone except the Holy Spirit set the pace of our walk. Let us repent of this today.

Let’s read this today.

As you consider all your life principles about being productive. Let’s add this to the top of the list.

Galatians 5:25 “25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Conclusion

A godly view of productivity does more than gets things done. It brings joy into out lives.

Aimless, unproductive Christians contradict the creative, purposeful, powerful, merciful God we love.

Ephesians 5:19–20 “19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

We should not be surprised. We have a shepherd who leads us to green pastures and restores our soul.

Let’s pray...

Believer

This moment of the day is a designated time in your life to recognize that God cares about how you spend your time because He cares for you.

You might recognize their is some time you are already aware of in your life that needs redeeming.

You might acknowledge you are not walking in the wisdom that has been provided for you.

Ask yourself does your plan for a productive 2024 include walking in the spirit?

As believers are praying let me speak to those of you have yet to put you faith and trust in Christ.

Unbeliever

Excluding God is the ultimate in unproductivity.

Jesus makes an important statement in Luke 9:25 “25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”

This is a moment of time where you can be redeemed.

More important than how you will spend your time once you live here today, you should make plans for eternity.

Here is the good news that surpasses all bad news in our lives.

The Gospel story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection.

Jesus came to earth and became man so He could die in your place.

He suffered the agony of the cross and made the payment for your sins.

He rose again the 3rd day proving He is God and that the payment of your sins had been accomplished.

The very best thing you could do with this moment of time is repent of your sins and put your faith in Christ right now.

Footnote 1 - Adapted from What’s Best next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016), 135.