5 Productivity Tips: Learning from Jesus and How He lived on earth

Everyday, I bet just like me, you want to be productive. But, we all struggle with how to effectively be productive. Don’t we?

As I read and learn about the most productive people, to me, Jesus Christ has been the best of all. When He was here on earth, according to the four gospels (in the New Testament, second book of the Bible), He was such a powerful leader.

Jesus started a movement, which will last for a very long time. It is the prelude of His Kingdom that has no end. 

 

In order to have made such a timeless impact on people for many generations, Jesus had a way of life that reflected principles that you and I can also use to be just like Him.

The practice of these timeless principles will help you be productive in your everyday living. 

Begin the day before it starts

Jesus started His days early in the morning. Very early in the morning, He would go to a solitary place for prayer (Mark 1:35). 

This practice is for the purpose of organizing and visualizing how your day should go. The best way to do it is through prayer. Just as Jesus started his day in prayer, meditation is very crucial to helping you line your day up to the bigger picture. 

Keep the big picture of your life in mind

Jesus was clear about what He ought to do every day. He knew where to go and what to do every day.

Jesus’ priority was to do God’s will (John 6:38). This helps connect what we do daily to what should benefit other people too.  God’s will can best be pictured through prayer and especially when done early in the morning.

If prayer is kind of a struggle for you, there are four tips that can help you make prayer life easier. 

Asking for God’s will to be done is one thing. Knowing how this translates into how you should live throughout the day is another.

In the case of Jesus, He clearly knew what His Father’s will meant in His daily living: calling sinners to repentance.

Jesus’ mission is your mission too, if you’re a believer and His disciple. Here’s what knowing God’s will as your priority means for you:

• Repentance is a change in our lifestyle. In the case of our Christian faith, it is living in a way that is pleasing to God and God’s Word.
• God’s will is good news. In other words, God wants you to find hope, encouragement and empowerment to be the best version of yourself.
• God’s will is that you become free to personally grow in all aspects of your life. This consists of the ability to clearly see and experience God’s favor throughout your day and life.

When you begin the day in prayer before it even starts, you will get a great start to your day and therefore be productive. 

Be selective of people you choose to hang out with

Because of His clear mission, Jesus intentionally selected the right people who would become His apostles.

Of course, you would wonder about Judas Iscariot. Part of the mission Jesus had to accomplish here on earth was to die our death. Jesus talked about His death early in his ministry.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. John 3: 14-15

But, also remember that Jesus called these disciples to follow Him. It was an invitation to which they could have said no. Learn the 5 marks that describe true disciples of Jesus Christ and you will discover that the invitation is for all, but to become a follower of Jesus Christ is a choice each one of us has to individually make. 

The 12 apostles represented what became Jesus’ inner circle. Clearly, you and I cannot be friends to everyone. But, we can befriend and love all people.

Ray William, in “Is There a Limit to the Friendships We Can Maintain?,” suggests that the inner circle could be made up of 5 people to whom we are intimately connected. As the number of friends increases from 5 to 15 and beyond, the emotional attachment decreases.  

Notice that the people Jesus called to become the twelve apostles would be very important by carrying out God’s mission to call other people to repentance. Even though the group would grow beyond just twelve people, everyone who willingly chooses to follow Jesus Christ matters in God’s eyes.

The twelve stayed with Jesus until his crucifixion. They were also there at the place where He wanted them to be for God’s promise: the Holy Spirit.

I bet, just as Jesus inspired them, they also represented the core cheerleaders Jesus needed throughout his three-year ministry here on earth.

These are the kind of people you need:

• friends who can always be there for you;
• friends who can cheer for you even when things aren’t going your way;
• friends who can inspire, encourage and empower you to be the best of yourself. 

All what you need you already have it for the day

Jesus did not want anything more than what He knew He had. Do you recall His temptation in the wilderness? You can read the story in Matthew 4 and Luke 4.

In this narrative, the devil is presenting 3 things to Jesus:

• nourishment (bread),
• authority (fame or glory) and
• protection.

These are the things we all need to start the day. Don’t we? It is also what we are often led to believe we don’t have.

As a result, we tend to pursue them, ignoring that we already have them. 

But, guess what? As a Christian, you already have all what you need.

With this in mind, you start your day unafraid and not anxious of anything. And you surely know that you will also accomplish what needs done during the day. 

Be Happy

One of Jesus’ famous teachings is the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5, 6, 7. The sermon has what’s known as the beatitudes.  talked about the beatitudes (Matthew 5-7).

Jesus introduced the sermon with the phrase “blessed are …,” which, in some other translations, also means “happy are…”   

To be a happy person means you rejoice for anything that comes your way.

• Early in the morning, you set mind on the idea that God is with you no matter what.
• Rejoicing means being thankful for what you can change or leaving what you cannot change up to God.
• Rejoicing is the will of God for you. 

This mindset is key to making you productive.

As a result, you will live at your best and grow every day as a person at work and in your entire life! 

I would like to hear and learn from you. What do you do to help yourself be productive? 

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