(Un)Productive

Do you ever have days when you feel unproductive? Perhaps it’s on the weekend and you’ve worked hard all week and you just don’t want to do anything. Maybe it happens during the week and you’ve got work to do but it just turns out to be an unproductive day, nothing gets done. What about in your faith? Do you ever feel unproductive for the Kingdom of God? In Titus 3, Paul gave some advice for how believers could always be productive.

“Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.” (Titus 3:14)

How often do you meet the urgent needs of others? In this day and age, this simple instruction is easy for us to do given how connected we are through social media. Perhaps you could sponsor a child through a faith-based program and meet the urgent needs of someone thousands of miles away. Perhaps you cook a meal for a new mom or a family going through a tough time. Maybe you meet the spiritual needs of someone by mentoring or doing something as simple as listening. Is there someone in your life who needs your forgiveness? Is there someone in your life who needs prayer? Maybe you can meet a need for someone by praying with them. Meeting the urgent needs of others is not about whether or not they deserve it. Remember while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Paul also covers this in Titus 3.

“But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)

“The greatest among you must be a servant.” (Matthew 23:11)

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)

To be a Christ-follower means to be a servant. Meeting the urgent needs of others is not about whether or not the person deserves it or has earned it; it’s about service. We are called to have the same attitude as Christ, our Divine King who gave up His privileges to be a servant. Who can you help today? How will you be productive by meeting the needs of others?

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed