What's Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done

by Matt Perman

The power behind our productivity comes from realizing that, through faith in the gospel, we are accepted by God in Christ apart from what we do. This

The greatest evidence of productivity comes from intangibles, not tangibles.

In fact, I would argue that this downplaying of the practical is not only discouraging but actually an (unwitting) failure of love. It’s a failure of love because part of the biblical conception of love is giving practical help to those who need it,

The essence of GDP is this: We are to use all that we have, in all areas of life, for the good of others, to the glory of God — and that this is the most exciting life.

With the shift to a knowledge economy, the nature of work has changed. Unlike in the industrial era, in which tasks were generally self-evident, the essence of knowledge work is that you not only have to do the work but also have to define what the work is.

Brilliant insight, hard work, and good intentions are not enough. Effectiveness is a distinct skill that must be learned.

THE NEED FOR A FIFTH GENERATION: GOD-CENTEREDNESS

if you live a life that pleases God, in spite of the fact that you are persecuted and mistreated for it, have you been productive? Yes. For God will make up for this in eternity and reward you greatly.

“Let your light so shine before others that they may see your clean parking lots and give glory to your father in heaven.”

The fact that productivity is about doing good works also means that our productivity is first about others, not ourselves. A

life of serving is a life of joy and adventure and excitement — far more exciting, in fact, than a life lived for yourself, no matter how many times you get to travel the world.

Love is the guiding principle of the Christian life, and generosity is the chief way love manifests itself in the world of work, our communities, and society.

we need to be creative because God is not simply a God of utility but also is a God of beauty.

Hence, the reason doctrine causes — not merely enables but causes — good works and moral reform is because doctrine creates joy. This joy makes us want to do good. It makes us eager to pursue holiness and the welfare of our neighbor and the world. Doctrine causes joy, which in turn is the fuel for good works.

“For my own part, I tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, and I rather suspect that the same experience may await many others. I believe that many who find that ‘nothing happens’ when they sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand.”*

The doctrine of justification frees us to serve our neighbor because we no longer have to worry about our own acceptance before God.

the way to change society — to change the nation and the world — is, interestingly, not primarily to preach on politics or ethics or ten steps to a healthy marriage, but to preach on doctrine.