Susan Narjala
Keeping it Real
Thinking Theologically About Productivity
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 honor. 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 honor 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.
If this blog resonated with you, SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter. I would love a Facebook or Instagram follow or share if you’re on social media.
This article was first published on Indiaanya . It was included by Tim Challies on his Daily A La Carte list of articles.
MEET SUSAN
Comments
7 Comments
Jennifer
May is such a chaotic month for me, so I currently read through a lens of feeling guilty about busyness – and I still find your article so helpful to remember God is also in the doing. And I’m reminded to take the task-list to the Lord instead of trying to account for every minute myself. Always needing the basic reminders 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Susan Narjala
Thanks for sharing, Jennifer. I recently came across the term “Maycember” and thought it quite apt and funny. Yes about taking our to-do’s to the Lord. As we seek to glorify Him in our doing, our productivity becomes worship. Blessings, Susan
Peter
Thanks Susan. Your transparency regarding your religious misconceptions is admirable. It has taken me years to discover the work of the towering philosopher, theologian and cardinal of the Middle Ages, Nicholas of Cusa. His seminal essay, On Learned Ignorance, is both a humbling and heartening education in expansion. What better way to live purposefully curious and humbly hungry.
You do well to reach for the language of fruitfulness and faithfulness.
I wondered: Is not the vivid and rather livid language of Galatians a portrait of stark and strident contrast (Gal 5) between Flesh Deed/Act and Spirit Fruit?
Are not both Flesh and Spirit ‘productive’? Is there a difference that makes a difference?
Does not one yield life from life, by life and the other death from death by death?
Aren’t we then either participating in Life or Death, thereby bringing life or death?
How might that inform ‘productivity’ (modern use of this post-agrarian term has its roots in the 18th century world of French economics amidst growing industrialisation)?
Is then faithfulness, the point on which your post crests and closes, as a response to the faithfulness of God which is enshrined in covenant fidelity and marked by a ‘tenacious solidarity’ (a Walter Brueggemann-ism for ‘hesed’), along with faithfulness’s Siamese twin, Good, the only, maximally humanising (in contrast to humanistic) way, of bearing fruit from Spirit life gifted by living/abiding/rooted in Him and connected to His life coursing through His Body, ie, one another? In Him was Life … His life is the only light by which we can see all of life and every other person by? What’s does the opposite of this look like?
Would love to hear your thoughts, theologically or otherwise. I’m sure you response will be most productive and lively… life-giving.
Blessings
Susan Narjala
Hi Peter, Thank you for sharing your esoteric thoughts! Here’s something I wholeheartedly agree with you on: “In Him was Life … His life is the only light by which we can see all of life and every other person by…” Also I had no idea that the word “productivity” has agrarian roots. Very cool 🙂 God bless. Susan
Jennifer
Love this perspective. While I can’t speak to everything you wrote (never read Cusa!), I appreciate the reminder and challenge to continually come to the Lord. Outwardly, everything can look the same, while inwardly, I could be anywhere in the spectrum of trying to make a great name for myself or trying to display my love for the Lord in everything I’m doing.
I think it begs the question – can we be fruitful without the Spirit? Would love to sit around a fire and discuss that, but I suppose we can save it for another day 🙂
Bill
Thank you Susan for honoring His call, and using your talents to not only be inspired but to inspire. Closing with the beautiful accolade from the One who matters is perfect context.
Susan Narjala
Amen. May we all live each day to hear those words from Him! What a completely counter-cultural, Christ-honoring life that would be! Thanks, Bill. Blessings, Susan