Needles, syringes, gloves, scissors, tape, and a stethoscope are among the tools I use every day at work, and my job would be impossible without them. I need them to assess my patients, care for people safely, and give the medications that they need.
Tools are required to do our work and they're also necessary to help us manage our daily life. They keep us on task, focused and aware of God’s purpose for our life.
Do More Better: A Practical Guide To Productivity by Tim Challies is one of those tools. I’ll admit, when I first read the title, I thought it sounded like a book written for the business-world, and not likely applicable for someone like me—an average working mom. Honestly, the word productivity both scared and excited me. I enjoy to-do lists and organizing, so I was intrigued.
After reading the table of contents, I was hooked and I dove right in.
Do More Better | Book Review
Content
Purpose of the Book
Table of Contents
Summary
My Take
My Recommendation
Quick Stats
More Like This
Scriptures About Productivity
Follow Along
Content
Purpose of the Book
Tim writes this book to help believers understand how our roles and responsibilities are given to us by God so that we may glorify Him and serve others.
Table of Contents
Introduction
CHAPTER 1: Know Your Purpose
CHAPTER 2: Answer the Call
CHAPTER 3: Define Your Responsibilities
CHAPTER 4: State Your Mission
CHAPTER 5: Select Your Tools
CHAPTER 6: Collect Your Tasks CHAPTER 7: Plan Your Calendar
CHAPTER 8: Gather Your Information
CHAPTER 9: Live the System
CHAPTER 10: Maintain it Consistently
Bonus: Tame Your Email
Bonus: 20 Tips to Increase Your Productivity
Summary
He brings focus to our mission, by guiding us to list the roles and responsibilities in our life, then challenging us to develop a mission statement for each of those areas. This list will form the foundation of organizing our daily life.
Then, he provides 3 tools to help us arrange our daily life into one system—using our roles as the framework—to navigate our tasks, schedule events and collect information. By using the 3 tools together into a daily review we are better equipped to steward the tasks and events in our life, for the glory of God.
My Take
Tim defines productivity as, “effectively stewarding my gifts, talents, time, energy and enthusiasm for the good of others and the glory of God.” He encourages believers to see God’s design for our life, in bringing glory to Him with our abilities, and talents, and that we use them to serve those around us. He warns against the pitfalls of laziness and busyness, which can easily begin to pervade our daily grind, if we are not paying attention.
I really loved the tools he recommends, and the way he challenges us to organize them around the roles that God has given us in our life. It helped me to see a deeper purpose in “ordinary” tasks, because everything I do becomes saturated with meaning when I look at it with God’s purposes in mind. The laundry becomes part of my mission to love and care for my family, and taking out the garbage becomes part of my mission to be a helper for my husband.
With technology at our fingertips, social media constantly in our faces, and our kids involved in activities, it's helpful to take a step back at some point and consider how we're supposed to get life done in the middle of all the chaos. This book is both theoretical and practical, giving tangible advice to bring organization and cohesiveness into our lives in order for us to become more specific in how we spend our time, to bring our mindset into doing good for others, and bring God glory.
My Recommendation
This book is for those who have a lot on their plate, and don’t know where to cut out.
It’s also for those who want to keep their life organized and meaningful and want practical tips to get started.
Read this if want to infuse your daily life with purpose!
I really enjoyed it. I gave it 5 stars, which means that I would read it again...and buy it!
Also, check out the bonus material:
there's a Productivity Worksheet
a bonus article Productivity Lessons from a King
AND an interactive course through Ligonier Ministries
And there's also a Student Edition, which would fit great those in college.
Quick Stats
# of Pages: 128
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 5 stars
Interview with Tim Challies
For those of you who appreciate a quick overview, here's a 30minute interview. hedid with The Ministry Network.
More Like This
She works his way
Redeeming your time
Faithfully present
Scriptures About Productivity
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph.5:15-16)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Col. 3:23)
Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest (Prov. 6:6-8)
“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Ps. 90:12)
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