When we study the Holy Scriptures, we realize that productivity is one of the first recommendations God gave to humanity. Once man was created, God blessed him and instructed him to be fruitful.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” Genesis 1:26-28

The word translated as “fruitful” in this text is a Greek word meaning “productive.” God wants every human being to be productive. Jesus confirmed this word by reminding us through the Holy Scriptures that our Heavenly Father will be glorified when we are very productive.

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” John 15:8

We all naturally aspire to be productive in all our endeavors. We are all happy and satisfied when we experience productivity. Conversely, we are unhappy and dissatisfied whenever we lack productivity.

The Key to Productivity

God did not merely ask us to be productive. He also showed us what we need to do to bear much fruit. The key to productivity was revealed when Jesus said that a grain of wheat that falls to the ground must accept to die if it wants to bear fruit.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24

The grain of wheat Jesus speaks of here represents the human being who is supposed to be very productive. This person can only be productive to the extent that they “die,” meaning they accept to give up all things that provide instant pleasure. A person who can resist fleeting pleasures is the one who is qualified for productivity. All those who cling to fleeting pleasures distance themselves from productivity.

In other words, productivity requires accepting to lose sleeping in, watching television, playing video games, using social media, going for walks, making unnecessary phone calls, and many other similar things. When I decided to become very productive in writing books, I had to give up some 35 hours of sleep as well as a number of outings.

I disciplined myself to wake up every morning at four o’clock to be able to write a few pages each day. In his letter to his son Timothy, the apostle Paul advises Timothy to accept to lose everything and focus exclusively on two or three things that will guarantee his productivity and success as a pastor.

“Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.” 1 Timothy 4:15

Timothy had to immerse himself completely. He could not afford to divide his time between these things and others he might also want to do. He had to choose to give up all other good things to bear much fruit for the glory of God. If we want to be productive, we too must accept to lose inferior things in favor of superior ones…

This text is an excerpt from the book “ACCEPTING LOSS TO SUCCEED BETTER” written by Dominique MBOG.

We invite you to read the following article, “An Excellent Way to Ressemble Christ.”