Redeeming Productivity - Pillar 1
Ch. 1 Pillar 1 - The Origin of Productivity: You Belong to God
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- The lie we need to unlearn: “It’s my life”.
- The world says "You belong to yourself."
- It’s my life so I should live it how I want to.
- The problem with this way of thinking:
- It’s self-centered.
- It causes us to not value productivity enough.
- If being happy is the most important thing then I should pursue productivity if it doesn’t make me happy.
- It prioritizes productivity for the wrong reasons.
- This is the origin of all unchristian productivity. It is a selfish desire for self-improvement for self’s sake.
- The truth: The Bible says: Your life is a stewardship from God.
- Life is a gift that must be used in service to God, for His glory.
- We must put Him first, not ourselves.
- Defining terms: When this book talks about productivity we are talking about personal productivity.
- This is not about corporate or group productivity.
- when modern people talk about personal productivity, they are usually talking about how efficiently and consistently an individual can complete important tasks
- Why and what a Christian does should not be the same as for non-Christians.
- Every philosophy of productivity includes a theology.
- We must root our basic beliefs in productivity not just in who we are but in whose we are.
- If you are a Christian, your life belongs to God. Your life is not your own.
- John 15.5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
- What is our origin in this verse? Jesus.
- We are connected to Him. We are His branches.
- We are dependent upon Him. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.
- What is our origin in this verse? Jesus.
- 1 Cor 6:19-20 You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
- You were bought with a price:
- This is what the Bible calls redemption .
- This is like:
- Boaz purchasing Ruth.
- In the ancient world,
- if you paid the price you had the right to redeem your people from an enemy nation.
- slaves could also purchase their freedom, or someone else could purchase freedom for a slave.
- You were bought with a price:
- We are bought by God. Now He is our Lord and master.
- Instead of using our productivity for selfish and self-gratifying purposes, now we must use them for the glory of God.
- Rom 6.13 Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
- God paid a price to redeem us. The price was Christ's blood.
- Ephes 1.7 we have our redemption through Jesus' blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
- Acts 20.28 Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly[1] of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
- Jesus purchased His people with His blood.
- This price was great. We were not cheap.
- This should cause us to be thankful and to rejoice.
- This should cause us to treat our life not as our own, but as a precious stewardship from God.
- Spurgeon: "Your whole manhood belongs to God."
- what is stewardship:
- When Christians talk about stewardship they are often talking about money. But financial stewardship is only one part of biblical stewardship.
- True biblical stewardship should encompass every part of our lives.
- When Christians talk about stewardship they are often talking about money. But financial stewardship is only one part of biblical stewardship.
- In the Parable of the Talents:
- unredeemed productivity leads to jealousy, but redeemed productivity eliminates it.
- Stewards have a responsibility to make a good return on whatever has been entrusted to them. Whether big or small.
- Notice, we tend to look at a very productive person and think wow I could never be as productive as them.
- Truth: But God isn't expecting you to be as productive as them. God is only expecting you to do the best you can with what He has given you.
- Principle: Don't compare yourself to others.
- See also: The Laws of Creativity > Law of Competition.
- All you need to do is be faithful with what God has given you.
- Principle: Don't compare yourself to others.
- Truth: But God isn't expecting you to be as productive as them. God is only expecting you to do the best you can with what He has given you.
- Notice, we tend to look at a very productive person and think wow I could never be as productive as them.
Ch. 2, Practice 1: Craft Your Morning Routine
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Why Morning Routines Matter
Spiritual Foundation
- Mornings are an opportunity to offer first fruits to God
- The first hour sets the direction for your entire day
- Your morning routine is the first act of worship
Personal Transformation
- Consistent morning habits can:
- Develop a closer relationship with God
- Increase reading and learning
- Create a more focused work life
- Support personal projects
The POWER Morning Routine
POWER Mornings in Chronological order
- Word: Start with reading the Bible to orient your heart toward God.
- Prayer: Spend time in prayer, worshipping God, confessing sin, thanking Him, and praying for the day ahead.
- Exercise: Engage in some physical activity, such as doing jumping jacks, to get the blood flowing and energize your body.
- Reading and Writing: Read a few pages from a book and write in your journal to clarify your thoughts and reflect on your spiritual journey.
- Organization: Look at your calendar, lay out your plan for the day, and identify your most important tasks to ensure a productive day ahead.
P - Prayer (Step 1)
- Start by meeting with God before anything else
- Follow Jesus' example of early morning prayer
- Mark 1.35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.
- Prioritize spiritual connection over digital distractions
- Ps 5.3 Yahweh, in the morning you will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.
- Ps 119.147 I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words.
O - Organization (Step 5)
Three-step daily planning:
- List top three tasks
- (I like to make my list, and then mark the top three with ⭐)
- Choose ONE non-negotiable task
- (And I like to mark this task with ⭐❗)
- Time block your day
- Schedule the most important task first
- Treat this time as a non-cancelable appointment
W - Word (Bible Reading) (Step 2)
- Read Scripture first thing in the morning
- Helps:
- Remind you of your spiritual purpose
- Lift your eyes above daily challenges
- Set proper spiritual priorities
E - Exercise (Step 4)
- Steward your body as a temple: 1 Cor 6:19-20 ...Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
- View physical health as spiritual stewardship
- No need for extreme workouts
- Even 20-minute walks or simple exercises can:
- Improve energy
- Enhance mental clarity
- Prepare you for daily challenges
R - Reading and Writing (Step 3)
- Journal to:
- Clear mental clutter
- Record God's providence
- Reflect on Scripture
- Read consistently
- Even 3 pages per day = 1,000 pages annually
- Develop skills to glorify God
Practical Implementation
Tips for Success
- Start by waking 30 minutes earlier
- Go to bed earlier to maintain sleep quality
- Be consistent
- Focus on gradual, sustainable change
Mindset Shift
- Productivity is not just about personal achievement
- Aim to steward your time and talents for God's glory
Final Encouragement
- Imagine your potential after a year of intentional morning routines
- Deeper spiritual life
- Sharper thinking
- Improved overall well-being
Key Reminder: Productivity is not the ultimate goal, but a means of honoring God and living purposefully.
- What kind of person would you become if you had a good morning routine?
- Morning Routines are a keystone habit
- If you get your morning routine right, you’ll be surprised to see all the other areas of your life that improve
- “The first hour of the morning are the rudder of the day”
Footnotes
the people of the church. God's people↩︎
Redeeming Productivity - Pillar 1
Interactive graph
On this page
Ch. 1 Pillar 1 - The Origin of Productivity: You Belong to God
Ch. 2, Practice 1: Craft Your Morning Routine
Why Morning Routines Matter
Spiritual Foundation
Personal Transformation
The POWER Morning Routine
POWER Mornings in Chronological order
P - Prayer (Step 1)
O - Organization (Step 5)
W - Word (Bible Reading) (Step 2)
E - Exercise (Step 4)
R - Reading and Writing (Step 3)
Practical Implementation
Tips for Success
Mindset Shift
Final Encouragement
Footnotes