Productivity

Text: Exo. 20:11

11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Introduction:

This month, we are running a new series on the subject of THE BLESSING. I will, however, give it a slightly different approach to enable me give expression to some of the thoughts and ideas I wish to pass across.

FOUR (4) CONCEPTS
From our text above, four (4) concepts stood out to me as I pondered on the text. They are:-
Work (made) i.e Productivity

Rest i.e Peace/Refreshing
Bless i.e Empowerment to succeed.
Hallow i.e Separate or make to stand apart.

In Gen.1:27-28, 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
God blessed man and gave him dominion with was to be manifested in:
Fruitfulness
Multiplication
Replenishment
Subduing the earth.

FRUITFULNESS
Fruitfulness is akin to productivity which implies the ability to produce something of exchangeable value, abundantly and efficiently.
Man is supposed to be fruitful in five (5) areas viz:
Fruit of the womb i.e children – Psm.127:3
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Fruit of the mind i.e ideas –Jer.6:19
19 Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people — The fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not heeded My words,Nor My law, but rejected it.
Fruit of the mouth i.e words-Prov.18:20-21 “20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Fruit of the Hands i.e Work- Prov.31:30-31 “30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Fruit of the spirit i.e character –Gal.5:22-23 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

PLEASE NOT THE FOLLOWING
Because of its relationship with God, the blessed life is both vigorous and productive (Psm.1:1-3) Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Unfruitfulness in its biblical context was always considered to be a curse indicating that serious and unresolved problems may exist in the life of the unfruitful -2Kings 2:19-22, 19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” 20 And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.'” 22 So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke. Psm.107:33-34
33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, And the watersprings into dry ground; 34 A fruitful land into barrenness, For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.

The word of God is the foundation for our fruitfulness because:
The word can be likened to both soil and stream for our endeavours acting to give:
Stability for the seed to sprout
Refreshing of water and nutrient for growth.
Growth brings maturity which produces fruitfulness or productivity.

To be fruitful, we must learn to be:
Patient in affliction
Constant in trial
Grateful in prosperity
Zealous when opportunity offers itself.

God has a right time and a right place for fruitfulness. Psm.1:3
3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
It may tarry, but will surely come.-Gal.6:9

PRODUCTIVITY/FRUITFULNESS CANNOT BE BY ACCIDENT BUT IT IS INTENTIONAL

Read Mark 3:13-15
And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
The above scripture shows us clearly that fruitfulness or productivity is intentional. It does not happen by chance or by default. It shows that productivity involves:
Intentional Planning
Successful Positioning
Powerful Partnering
Faithful Planting
Maturing Patience

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Dr. Udoh

Pastor at The Father's House Ministry

Rev (Dr.) Richard Udoh is the senior pastor of The Father's house Ministry, a fast growing gospel church. A passionate preacher & a prolific writer. He also authors The Father's Menu, a power packed monthly daily devotional book.