Unproductive Day

Sometimes I come across a word, and I have to look up the definition. Many times, I will know generally what the word means, but I often times find that the word has a more powerful dictionary definition that I thought. Take the word unproductive. One of the definitions of this word, according to Webster’s is: “not producing or able to produce large amounts of goods, crops, or other commodities.” Usually, when we use the word unproductive, we consider mainly the other definition: “not achieving much; not very useful.” I think that both are very good definitions, but the one that hit me the most today was the first of these, which mainly refers to the unproductivity of land, etc.

I thought of this word initially because, well, today was a very unproductive day, generally speaking. Although I felt relaxed and enjoyed the time I spent reading a new book and lounging outside in the sunshine, something kept telling me I could probably be making better use out of my time. I got this feeling that I was somehow being unproductive. Now, don’t get me wrong. I think that time spent reading a good book and relaxing is perfectly good, but my feeling of unproductivity today stemmed from neglecting to spend time with God.  That something that kept tugging at me was someone, namely the Holy Spirit, reminding me that my time spent with God is essential, even on a day spent entirely at home with no obligations whatsoever.

I don’t know why it is, that it’s sometimes easier to neglect spending time with my King when I have a day that is completely free. I have no time restrictions like work or school or commitments that overbusy my daily schedule. Nothing. Yet, relax mode seems to kick in so easily without thought of beginning my relaxing day spending time with Him.

The realization that I had today is that we can feel like we need these relaxing days, to refresh and rejuvenate, but if we aren’t dedicating that day to the Lord, then it is going to be entirely unproductive. You will be unproductive. What crops can He grow within us when our time spent with Him is replaced by sunshine and literature? These might feel rejuvenating, like the things that we need, but they are not nearly as rejuvenating as the time we can spend with the Lord. Only He produces good fruit, good crops, in us. Not sunshine, not a good movie at home.

And, I also realized that having a completely open day like this one can have potentially dangerous consequences, if we do not give it to the Lord first. Time devoted to God protects us from succumbing to our fleshly desires, sins, and temptations. Because, on a day that is completely free from all commitments, our commitment to strive towards living a pure life might just step outside for a day or so.

So, maybe a day without much going on is ok, but the commitment to spend time with God should always be a priority. Let’s not let ourselves become unproductive, but become instruments of productivity for the Lord, allowing Him to continue to cultivate purity and goodness within us.