Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unproductive. All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

There are many ways we measure productivity. For some, this is a day full of completing assignments at work. For others, it is a day at home getting our to-do list done. Whether at work or home, our measure of productivity often has one thing in common: completing a list of tasks. Paul’s words here remind us that life is meant for more than completing a lot of tasks; we also are called to help others along the way. Paul’s definition of productivity was based on the way the people were serving, the needs they were meeting, and the good deeds that were done as evidence of the faith present in them.

In our flesh, we are tempted to get tunnel vision and view anything outside of our to-do list as an interruption, but God has given us a calling that goes beyond daily checklists. In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul said, “Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” If we keep our treasures on earth, daily tasks will always feel like the most productive way to spend our time. But when we set our eyes on the greater call we have in Christ, we see serving others as an opportunity for fulfilling our purpose instead of merely a frustrating interruption.

• What is your definition of a productive day? How is that similar or different from Paul’s description of productivity in these verses?
• What are some pressing needs in your community? What can you do today to help meet those needs?
• Pray and ask God to help you keep your eyes fixed on Him as you serve those around you.