Productivity: A Divine Quest
Written by: Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ”
Time is a gift from God. Productivity is a challenge I’ve faced throughout my life. In high school, I was more concerned with my productivity in sports, drama, speech, and other extracurricular activities than in my schoolwork's productivity. Even in college, it took a lousy semester before I focused my productivity on my schoolwork. Throughout my years as a pastor, I’ve worked to increase my productivity because there was always more to accomplish than hours in the day. I learned from the beginning of my ministry that unproductive time meant someone wasn’t receiving needed care.
Throughout my ministry, I’ve struggled with the challenge of balancing personal and work time. Guilt has been a constant companion with the push-and-pull of multiple obligations landing at the same time. Everyone reading this devotional, I’m sure, can relate to the frustration of too many tasks for the hours available. Over the years, I have had several notebooks, planners, and tech gadgets to assist me.
In the past few years, using YouTube reviews and friends’ recommendations, I have tried several apps to enhance my productivity. What I’ve come to realize is that no app is the productivity Garden of Eden. Apps are amazingly helpful, but in the end, it still requires each of us to utilize them. More than apps, it requires a daily plan that one follows regularly. I begin each day reviewing emails and reading the news. Then I know what to pray for each morning. I get a morning workout done. Then I review my daily calendar and formulate my daily plan. What meetings, obligations, readings, and writing I plan to do within the day are evaluated. I set it up on a To-Do list that is prioritized. This To-Do list also includes personal desires, as well as work obligations. Finally, I regularly evaluate my weekly plan, adjusting for changing needs, providing time for intentional rest.
Today, evaluate your own productivity process. This isn’t just a self-help plan, but a spiritual exercise. Time is a Divine gift from God. It is incumbent upon each one of us to treat time with the respect it deserves. This attitude does not lead to burn-out, because rest is part of the equation. Planned rest is often more beneficial because if planned it is less likely to make one feel guilty. Offer God your productivity plan, so you can make the most out of the life you’ve been given by God.
