Time management books, systems, calendars, planners – they’re all geared towards one thing: what you do.
Think of the millions, if not billions, of dollars spent on software and tools and seminars to get people doing. Doing more things. Doing better things.
The entire system sits in stark contrast to a Christian model of productivity. We need to understand the role and importance of who we are – not just what we do.
Sharpening the Saw
The worldly productivity model understands the importance of becoming a better person. We’re told to “sharpen the saw” by spending time reading and developing ourselves.
But the goal is still the same: action. You work hard on becoming better… so that you can accomplish more.
Everything has a decidedly utilitarian focus.
Who You Are Matters
But in a biblical mindset, you work on who you are as a person because who you are as a person matters.
It matters because our God who sees the heart chooses to work through people based on who they are – not what they do.
It matters because transforming us spiritually is part of what God is accomplishing when he gives us the privilege of working with him.
It matters because being conformed to the image of Christ is an acceptable end result in and of itself. If our transformation is the only thing that happens, it’s still very much worth it.
Time and Discipline
But here’s where the rubber meets the road. Is this something you truly believe? Something you believe enough to put it into action?
Because this takes time.
This means that the Christian should spend even more time sharpening the saw – in vocational preparation but moreso in spiritual formation.
Bible study. Prayer. Community.
Serious discipline.
If you know that who you are matters, does your schedule reflect that?
God uses everything to shape us, including our work. So our transformation won’t be restricted to those early morning devotional hours.
Yet our times of reading and our times alone with God are the main vehicles that God uses to transform us. Without these focused times, everything else won’t be sufficient.
But it’s tough for us to stop doing. It’s tough for us to stop working and striving and trying to produce materialistic results around us.
Do you have the courage it takes to work on what’s really important?
To work on who you are?
Do you have the courage to pray for God to transform you into the type of person that he can use?
Photo Credit: Robbie1 (Creative Commons)
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