Matt Perman - Whats Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done

This book is simply extraordinary. I doubt there is a person on the planet who knows both theological issues and time-management literature to the depth and extent Matt Perman does.

John Piper, former Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church; author, Dont Waste Your Life

This amazing volume offers a wealth of practical, real-world productivity solutions, all framed within the context of the gospel. Matt provides the know-how and the know-who we need to be faithful stewards over the gifts we have been given.

Michael Hyatt New York Times bestselling author; MichaelHyatt.com

A refreshing, lively, remarkably insightful, deeply God-centered approach to productivity. Everyone from any walk of life who reads this book will be helped and encouraged by it.

Wayne Grudem, Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies, Phoenix Seminary; author, The Poverty of Nations

The question isnt, What do I want to do for God? but, What does God want me to do? This book provides the framework for getting more done and making a bigger difference in your work.

Mark Sanborn, author, The Fred Factor and You Dont Need a Title to Be a Leader

This book is the fruit of experience as well as insight drawn from Scripture and common sensewithout doing injustice to either. There is a lot of wisdom here.

Michael Horton, Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California; author, The Gospel-Driven Life

You will find in these pages a unique and remarkable combination of theological insight, biblical instruction, and practical counsel that will change the world if put into practice. I cannot recommend it more highly.

Justin Taylor, Managing Editor, ESV Study Bible; blogger, Between Two Worlds

A Christian companion to Getting Things Done.

Hugh Whelchel, Executive Director, Institute for Faith, Work and Economics; author, How Then Should We Work?

Love your neighbor at work! This book shows you not only why you need to do this but also how. No matter who you are or what your work is, this is a reliable, exciting, and encouraging guidebook on getting things done, from a God-centered perspective.

Brad Lomenick, President, Catalyst; author, The Catalyst Leader

This book is an engaging, motivating, and exciting vision for your work and the things you do every day, right along with helpful, clear, and practical instruction on how to become more effective with less stress. Want to be more productive for the glory of God? Read Whats Best Next.

Ed Stetzer, President, LifeWay Research; author, Lost and Found; www.edstetzer.com

Matt Perman approaches the task [of being productive at working] not only from his personal experience but from a Christian worldview. Follow his model to align what you do with Gods purpose in your lifeand in particular in your work.

B. Joseph Pine II, coauthor, The Experience Economy and Infinite Possibility

What makes this book stand out is the way Matt Perman integrates all of this down-to-earth advice with the doctrine of vocationhow the gospel of Christ bears fruit in love and service to God and to our neighbors in every facet of lifea truth that animates every page.

Gene Edward Veith, Professor of Literature, and Provost of Patrick Henry College; author, God at Work

Plain and simple: learning to effectively manage your time and tasks is one of the most practical and tangible ways you can love your neighbors, coworkers, family members, and the world at large. No one has articulated this better than Matt Perman in this unique book.

Matt Heerema, owner and director, Mere Design Agency; Pastor, Stonebrook Community Church

ZONDERVAN

Whats Best Next

Copyright 2014, 2016 by Matthew Perman

ePub Edition October 2016: ISBN 978-0-310-49423-2

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Perman, Matt, 1976

Whats best next : how the gospel transforms the way you get things done / Matt Perman.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978 0 310 49422 5 (hardcover) 1. Work Religious aspects Christianity. 2. Labor productivity. I. Title.

BT738.5.P48 2013

248.4 dc23

2013026880

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Published in association with the literary agency of Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc.

Cover design: Faceout Studio

Interior design: Matthew Van Zomeren

13 14 15 16 /DCI/ 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To the Lord, Jesus Christ, for we are your workmanship, created in you for good works (Eph. 2:10)

No man has a right to be idle.... [W]here is it that in such a world as this, health, and leisure, and affluence may not find some ignorance to instruct, some wrong to redress, some want to supply, some misery to alleviate?

William Wilberforce, A Practical View of Christianity

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15 17

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.

John Wesley

by John Piper

Introducing the villains

Putting effectiveness over efficiency

How seeking to be productive without God is the most unproductive thing in the world

Why knowing how to get things done is essential to Christian discipleship

Productivity is really about getting good works done

The gospel calls us to put others before ourselves; this is not only right but also the way to be most productive

The only way to be productive is to realize you dont have to be productive

Dont turn productivity into a new law: productivity and Philippians 4

God-centered character as the foundation of all productivity

Know whats most important and put it first