Piper's 7 Lessons in Productivity

I listened to an APJ episode recently called "Seven Lessons in Productivity" and loved it. I was challenged and encouraged to embrace the tiniest moments to create, love, and serve. I thought I would distill the advice for my sake and pass it along. The 20 minute podcast is worth your time, but below is my summary:

1. No man is an island. 

• Productive people have others help them. Who is my team? 
• "The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 1 Corinthians 12:21
• " What do you have that you did not receive?" 1 Corinthians 4:7

2. Know why you exist and why you do what you do.

• God created us a secondary creators and makers.

3. Discover and embrace the difference between sloth/lazyness and rest/leisure.

• The sabbath may be gone, but the sabbath principal is not.

4.If we are going to work abundantly and faithfully, we must not be paralyzed by perfection.

• God created us to work abundantly!
• "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:57
• Do something with what you have and it will give you direction for the future.

5.  Act promptly when your mind is ripe with insight and ready for action.

• Ideas need to be captured when they come upon you; write them down or you will likely lose them.

6. Steady, small chops will bring down a huge tree.

• At only 15 minutes per day, you can read a big book over time!
• "If you must see a tree fell every time you pick up an ax, you will spend your life on little projects."
• Keep chopping at whatever task you have and your labor will accumulate.
• Inspiration: The 9000 page TDNT was translated at a steady 2.5 hours/day and roughly 500 pages per year!

7. Forget what lies behind and press forward to the goal...

• "Never get to a point in life where you are more contented with what you have already done than you are excited about what is to be done."
• "Pray 'make this my most fruitful season, Lord'"
• "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14

I hope you are challenged and encouraged! Again, listening to the podcast is worth it - the link is at the top!
-Bronson