05082022 Productivity and Success

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God whose plans cannot be stopped. He can accomplish great things even when man thinks they are impossible.

A second category of God’s blessing has to do with productivity and success. This is often the way men want to measure God’s blessing. There have always been proponents of the prosperity gospel, which appeals to people with its assurances of health and wealth. Due to the obvious abuse and misunderstanding within the teaching of these movements, the concept of success as a measure of blessing must be handled carefully.

At the same time, it is true that God often does bless His people with productivity and success that can be explained only by God’s deliberate hand of blessing. Many Christians, whether in Biblical times or throughout church history, have experienced great success in their homes, businesses, and ministries. For some, that success happened throughout their lives, while for others it manifested after a time of preparation. For some, like many pioneering missionaries, the successful groundbreaking became evident only when the fruit flourished under the ministry of the next missionary.

For a little perspective, consider these examples. Abraham was a very rich man, although he had no offspring for many years and owned no property except a burial plot. Job experienced incredible blessing both before and after his time of suffering, but for a while he had nothing. God blessed Joseph in all that he did, even when he was a slave and a prisoner. God gave great success to Paul’s church-planting ministry, but that did not negate the reality of persecution and suffering. We would consider each of these men to have productivity and success, but for none of them was that constant across all areas of life.

The basic truth, however, is that God does bless His children with success. The Psalms teach that God does deliberately prosper His followers. This prosperity can be widespread. “And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).

God can give success by causing His children to be firmly established. “LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong” (Psalm 30:7). God can cause this firm standing to last through their entire lives. “The LORD preserveth the faithful” (Psalm 31:23). God can even extend this productivity past the deaths of His children. “The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever” (Psalm 37:18).

The productivity that God gives is illustrated through a healthy tree that flourishes and bears fruit. “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither” (Psalm 1:3). This fruitfulness continues even when the world would put an older person on the shelf and consider him past his prime. “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing” (Psalm 92:14). In order to produce this unexpected fruit, God gives special strength. “So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5).

This concept of productivity and success is perhaps best summarized by this verse. “Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed” (Psalm 25:3). These people will not come to ruin or see their (God’s) plans fall apart in disaster. They will not be broken by failure or by God letting them down.

This final verse serves as the greatest contrast with the wicked, who will not experience this meaningful level of productivity. While the wicked may seem to prosper for a time, the reality is that “Let them be ashamed which transgress without cause” (Psalm 25:3). “Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly” (Psalm 6:10). All their plans and efforts will come to ruin and emptiness.

Productivity and success will not be equal for all believers, but it is the general practice of God to bless the godly efforts of His children. Any home and marriage that survives is an evidence of blessing. Any church that is planted or ministry that exists is an evidence of blessing. Any Christian that remains faithful is an evidence of blessing. We know this is true, because “except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1), and “without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Without God’s blessing, our efforts would also end in ruin and emptiness.

The insight of Gamaliel sums this concept up well. When considering the activities and spread of the early church, Gamaliel recalled two previous movements. In the first, the leader “was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.” In the second, the leader “also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.” With these examples to bolster his policy, Gamaliel gave this advice: “Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God” (Acts 5:36-39).

Yes, with God on our side and as we follow His leading, we can see the prospering of the work that He has given us. The productivity may be great or small, but God will successfully work out His plan in us.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA