Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of being productive is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting God's design for humanity to be fruitful and to steward His creation effectively. The Bible presents productivity not merely as a measure of output but as a reflection of one's faithfulness and obedience to God's commands.
Creation and MandateThe idea of productivity is first introduced in the creation account. In
Genesis 1:28 , God blesses humanity and commands them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth." This mandate establishes the foundation for human productivity, emphasizing the responsibility to cultivate and manage the earth.
Parables and Teachings of JesusJesus frequently used parables to illustrate the importance of being productive in the Kingdom of God. In the Parable of the Talents (
Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus describes a master who entrusts his servants with varying amounts of money. The servants who invest and multiply their resources are commended as "good and faithful," while the one who buries his talent is rebuked for his lack of productivity. This parable underscores the expectation that believers should use their God-given gifts and opportunities to produce spiritual fruit.
Similarly, in the Parable of the Sower (
Matthew 13:1-23), Jesus explains how the seed sown on good soil represents those who hear the word and understand it, producing a crop yielding "a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown." This imagery highlights the transformative power of the Word of God in a receptive heart, leading to a life of spiritual productivity.
Work and DiligenceThe Bible consistently associates productivity with diligence and hard work.
Proverbs 10:4 states, "Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." This proverb, along with others like
Proverbs 12:24 and
Proverbs 13:4, emphasizes the value of industriousness and the rewards that come from it.
The Apostle Paul also addresses the importance of work in his epistles. In
2 Thessalonians 3:10 , he writes, "For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat." Paul encourages believers to lead productive lives, working with their hands and contributing to the community (
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).
Spiritual FruitfulnessBeyond physical and economic productivity, the Bible places a strong emphasis on spiritual fruitfulness. In
John 15:5 , Jesus declares, "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." This passage highlights the necessity of abiding in Christ to produce spiritual fruit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (
Galatians 5:22-23).
Eternal PerspectiveUltimately, biblical productivity is measured not only by earthly success but by eternal impact. In
1 Corinthians 3:12-14 , Paul speaks of building on the foundation of Christ with materials that will withstand the test of fire, indicating that true productivity is aligned with God's eternal purposes. Believers are encouraged to focus on producing works that have lasting value in the Kingdom of God.
In summary, the Bible presents productivity as a multifaceted concept that encompasses physical, economic, and spiritual dimensions. It calls believers to be diligent stewards of their resources, to use their talents for God's glory, and to bear fruit that reflects their relationship with Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Yielding or furnishing results; as, productive soil; productive enterprises; productive labor, that which increases the number or amount of products.
2. (a.) Bringing into being; causing to exist; producing; originative; as, an age productive of great men; a spirit productive of heroic achievements.
3. (a.) Producing, or able to produce, in large measure; fertile; profitable.
Greek
5543. chrestos -- serviceable, good... Cognate: 5543 (an adjective, derived from 5530 , "to furnish what is suitable, useful")
-- properly, (serviceable,
productive); (); beneficial, benevolent).
...1756. energes -- at work, active
... active. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: energes Phonetic Spelling:
(en-er-gace') Short Definition: effective Definition: effective,productive of due...
2164. euphoreo -- to bear well, ie to be fruitful
... Word Origin from eu and phoreo Definition to bear well, ie to be fruitful
NASB Word Usage veryproductive (1). bring forth abundantly....
5078. techne -- art, craft, trade
... art, craft, occupation. From the base of tikto; art (asproductive), ie (specially),
a trade, or (generally) skill -- art, craft, occupation. see GREEK tikto....
1753. energeia -- mute, speechless
... Feminine Transliteration: energeia Phonetic Spelling: (en-erg'-i-ah) Short Definition:
working, activity Definition: working, action,productive work, activity...
Library
That Sarah's Barrenness was MadeProductive by God's Grace.
... Book XV. Chapter 3."That Sarah's Barrenness was MadeProductive by God's
Grace. Sarah, in fact, was barren; and, despairing of...
That the Stoics Transfer the Figments of the Poets to a...
... and ethereal nature of heaven, that is, of fire, which by itself produced all things,
was without that part of the body which contained theproductive organs....
Valentinus Convicted of Plagiarisms from the Platonic and...
... to these (Valentinians), the originating cause of the universe is a Monad, unbegotten,
imperishable, incomprehensible, inconceivable,productive, and a cause...
The Birth of Mary the Holy Mother of God, and Very Glorious Mother...
... Alas! to what have I been likened? I am not like the fowls of the heaven, because
even the fowls of the heaven areproductive before Thee, O Lord. Alas!...
On the Causes of Doubt or Assent.
... The Stromata, or Miscellanies. Chapter VII."On the Causes of Doubt or Assent.
The causesproductive of scepticism are two things principally....
Caput xv.
... as being placed above the heart. The back, the holding together the whole
productive powers of life. The feet denote the moving...
The Wonderful Skill with which Origen Prepares Gregory and...
... burnt up, and hard as a rock, and rough, or, it may be, one not utterly barren or
unproductive, but rather, perchance, by nature veryproductive, though then...
Similitude of the vine and Branches. --The Law of Love. (John,
... so the followers of Christ can only obtain, by inward and inseparable communion
with him, the Divine life which can fit them to beproductive labourers in the...
Whether an Angel Merits his Beatitude?
... Such operation leading to the end is eitherproductive of the end, when such end
is not beyond the power of the agent working for the end, as the healing art...
Prosperity under Persecution
... Be has made his enemies work for him, aiding the enterprise they eschewed: he has
turned their curse into a blessing: he has made evilproductive of good: he...
Thesaurus
Productive (1 Occurrence)... 1. (a.) Yielding or furnishing results; as,
productive soil;
productive enterprises;
productive labor, that which increases the number or amount of products.
...Products (9 Occurrences)
Botany
... destruction of all this vegetation has led to the washing away of almost all the
soil, so that now great labor would be required to make this areaproductive....
Vanity (100 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) That which is vain; anything empty, visionary, unreal, or unsubstantial;
fruitless desire or effort; trifling laborproductive of no good; empty...
Nanaea
... Nana or Nanai of the Babylonians, known as "the lady of Babylon." The name means
"the undefiled," and probably represented originally theproductive powers of...
Gardener (4 Occurrences)
... It is the common practice in Palestine today to set a watchman over a garden during
itsproductive season. See WATCHMAN. Multi-Version Concordance...
Fruitless (4 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.)Productive of no advantage or good effect; vain; idle; useless;
unprofitable; as, a fruitless attempt; a fruitless controversy....
Fertilize (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To make fertile or enrich; to supply with nourishment for plants; to make
fruitful orproductive; as, to fertilize land, soil, ground, and meadows....
Fertile (55 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Producing fruit or vegetation in abundance; fruitful; able to produce
abundantly; prolific; fecund;productive; rich; inventive; as, fertile land or...
Fat (150 Occurrences)
... 6. (superl.) Exhibiting the qualities of a fat animal; coarse; heavy; gross; dull;
stupid. 7. (superl.) Fertile;productive; as, a fat soil; a fat pasture....
Resources
What is a Jesus juke? | GotQuestions.orgWas the American Revolution a violation of Romans 13:1-7? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about work? | GotQuestions.orgProductive: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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