In What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done, Matthew Perman shares invaluable practical wisdom on how to glorify God and help others by being effective in your work.

“THIS IS A BOOK ABOUT GETTING THINGS DONE and making ideas happen, with less friction and frustration, from a biblical perspective.”

Perman shares the purpose of productivity.

“Productivity is first about doing good for others to the glory of God.”

Our desire to be productive should be fueled by our passion to glorify God.

Perman challenges traditional motivations for productivity.

“According to the Bible, a truly productive life is lived in service to others. Being productive is not about seeking personal peace and affluence because God made us for greater goals.”

Our desire to glorify God and do good works is a much more compelling motivation toward productivity than personal prosperity and peace of mind.

“a life of doing good for others is actually the most exciting life, for God calls us to find ways of doing good with a sense of creativity, competence, and adventure.”

John Wesley agrees with Perman that Christians are to be diligent in pursuing good works for the glory of God.

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.”

The good news is that you don’t have to quit your job and to be doing good works!

“The things that we are doing every day when we are being productive — answering emails, going to meetings, making supper for the family — are not just things we are doing. They are good works…. They are themselves part of the good works that God created us for in Christ. And, therefore, they have great meaning.”

So what is the Christian’s motivation for gospel productivity? Matthew Perman summarizes it well.

“The best way to be productive is to put others first. This is both what the gospel teaches us and the most exciting life.”

Part 2 of my summary will highlight some of the practical steps Matthew Perman teaches in “What’s Best Next” I found most helpful.