About two years ago, I began reading productivity blogs. I followed blogs like Zen Habits, Study Hacks, Tim Farris, Life Hacker, Scott Young and Productive Flourishing. They were quite addicting. They provided me with the dream that if I put my mind to anything, I could achieve it if I had the correct system. Over time I realized this was only a partial truth. Life is much messier then it appears. "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)
More importantly I found the ideas promoted on these blogs to be shallow. I quit reading most of them with the exception of Cal Newport's blog, but even his systen has various flaws. I realized that there is a key flaw in the productivity movement. It lacks an ultimate purpose. I found myself asking the question "why be efficient with time?"
Anyone can take Tim Farris' four hour work week and apply it to their lives. At first glance, this is great, but it nagged me that none of these writers offered a life style that had any ultimate purpose. I kept coming back to "who cares if you get all your work done in four hours or have a 4.0 in college, why does that matter?"
I realized none of these blogs were providing a direction for my life. What is the point of being productive? This where I began to develop the idea for a blog on productivity and time management from a Christian perspective.
It is important that I clarify what I mean by "a Christian perspective." What I mean by this phrase is that I am looking at the topic of productivity and time management from the viewpoint of one who believes that Jesus Christ lived, died and resurrected 2,000 years ago. He is both God and man. Because of man's sinful nature we are in danger of the wrath of God. Because of Christ's death and resurrection, we are able to come before the throne of God and be received into his kingdom by acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord.
This last part is very important for productivity and time management. Christianity provides a way of giving depth and meaning to life because Jesus Christ is King over all the earth. We who are a part of his kingdom now live to his glory. My question, "Why be productive" became "you are a servant of God, you have been given a gift, time. Use it wisely."
In writing to the church in Ephesus, Paul pushes the point that the church must live a wise life because we are living in an evil time. Part of this is watching where you step, redeeming the time:
Anyone can take Tim Farris' four hour work week and apply it to their lives. At first glance, this is great, but it nagged me that none of these writers offered a life style that had any ultimate purpose. I kept coming back to "who cares if you get all your work done in four hours or have a 4.0 in college, why does that matter?"
I realized none of these blogs were providing a direction for my life. What is the point of being productive? This where I began to develop the idea for a blog on productivity and time management from a Christian perspective.
It is important that I clarify what I mean by "a Christian perspective." What I mean by this phrase is that I am looking at the topic of productivity and time management from the viewpoint of one who believes that Jesus Christ lived, died and resurrected 2,000 years ago. He is both God and man. Because of man's sinful nature we are in danger of the wrath of God. Because of Christ's death and resurrection, we are able to come before the throne of God and be received into his kingdom by acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord.
This last part is very important for productivity and time management. Christianity provides a way of giving depth and meaning to life because Jesus Christ is King over all the earth. We who are a part of his kingdom now live to his glory. My question, "Why be productive" became "you are a servant of God, you have been given a gift, time. Use it wisely."
In writing to the church in Ephesus, Paul pushes the point that the church must live a wise life because we are living in an evil time. Part of this is watching where you step, redeeming the time:
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. (Ephesians 5:15-17)Productive and time management have to do with knowing the will of God. This entails having wisdom. My goal for this blog is to bring forward a perspective of wisdom for Christ's people that we may be redeem the time given to us.
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