I was about to start a project, and as I sat pondering the work, a straightforward question came to mind. “What do I hope to accomplish by doing this?”

Was I wanting to do it merely for the joy it produced?

Was I wanting to do it for the physical rewards it might bring?

Was I wanting to do it for the connection to other people it might include?

Was I wanting to do it because I felt guilty about something I should be doing?

Was I wanting to do it because I thought it would be productive for the kingdom of God?

What is the end goal? It is a question everyone must ask before starting any project. It is okay if you are doing it for a few minutes of joy, but be clear about that purpose. If you are doing it for profit, be clear about that too.

When you know the aim of your activity, it creates clarity in your actions and the logical response when you are finished. Pointless activity makes us busy and leaves us feeling empty or frustrated when the task is complete.

I sat there thinking about the work ahead, and I could not come up with any clear goal other than filling my time with something I felt I should be doing. Once I understood that, I got up and did something more productive with my time.