Productivity

What is your attitude about work? This is the question Anne Ortlund asks in the next chapter of her book, Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman. Rather than pushing women to work harder and longer, she reminds us to keep a balance between work and rest. Even working at tasks in which we are Spirit-gifted can lead to excess and can be abusive to our bodies. Thus said, she reminds us that God puts a high level of value on work of all kinds; especially work that leads to eternal results.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain for the Lord." 1 Cor. 15:58.

Anne says that 'the industrious spider gets a large web', and although Solomon didn't write this, he could have! What a proverb! She reminds us that hard work never hurt anyone and that it's only a bad attitude about hard work that causes the gears to grind and the tensions to mount. Any work done in God's will should only bring physical fatigue. Rest will bounce us back quickly from this type of fatigue. And that work done in God's will should not bring emotional or spiritual fatigue. If it does, we need to re-evaluate and refocus our efforts.

He will make our yolk easy and our burden light. The author reminds us that when we work in obedience to Him, saying yes unreservedly before we see how, He will make it right. He will make it up to us in a thousand secret, delightful ways.

How exciting! As Anne says: 'Dear Christian women, see the glory of productivity. May part of the way you represent Christ in this world be your reputation for hard work!

Blessings!