While In Prison Be Productive!

Acts 28:16
When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Acts 28:30
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.
Acts 28:31
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

Apostle Paul was arrested in Jerusalem for preaching about Jesus. The Jews who had accused him were determined to kill him. For his own safety and also for his desire to preach the gospel in Rome, he appealed his case to Ceaser the Roman Emperor. Because of his appeal, he remained incarcerated and was transferred to Rome by ship. Had he been set free he would have been killed by Jews. He also knew that an appeal Ceasar would end in death because that is how Romans conducted their affairs to discourage cases going to Caesar and to also maintain Pax Romana(Roman Peace).

The Bible tells us that Paul was safely transferred to Rome. He was imprisoned at his own private rented facility. He stayed there waiting for a chance to be heard by Caesar. That waiting was indefinite because Caesar had many other things to attend to. Therefore he stayed there waiting to meet Caesar then be killed. Paul’s greatest desire was to also preach to Caesar and his household. Paul stayed in this prison for two years as he waited to meet Caesar and die by a sword.

While in Prison Paul wrote many books important to the church, especially books to Timothy and Titus. Books that have blessed the church and greatly inspired the pastorate. Books that have contributed greatly to knowledge on how to appoint leaders and their qualifications. He did this while in prison waiting to be killed. While in prison be productive!

While in prison Paul preached to many people who came to visit him. While in prison he preached to jews. While in prison he preached to gentiles. While in prison waiting to die, he preached even to Caesar’s household, see Philippians 4:22. While in prison waiting to die by his neck being cut off, he preached and wrote. While in prison be productive!

If in prison you spend time worrying about your coming death, you will suffer more pain. Worry is self-punishment. Worry magnifies the problem than it will ever be. Worry does more harm to you than the looming problem will ever do. The only way to deal with worry is to pray and don’t let the mind be idle. Occupy the mind, get busy, get productive. Do something productive in your prison for your own good. While in prison be productive!

If you will die anyway, why not be productive before you die? Use the time before your death to leave a legacy to posterity. Serve God before you die. Show courage in the face of death. Let all who know you and relate to you be proud of you. That is only possible if you do not worry but get productive as you wait for the dying day. While in prison be productive!

We are all in different types of prisons. Life itself is a prison that will end in death unless Jesus returns soon. Sickness is a prison. Loneliness is a prison. Poverty is a prison. Failure is a prison. Rejection is a prison. While waiting to break out of prison or die, be productive. While in prison be productive!

What prison do you find yourself in? Is it a prison of poor health? Is it a prison of financial challenges? Is it a relationship or marriage that has turned out to be a prison? Is it a continuous failure in school that has locked you in the prison of failure? Is it guilt that has imprisoned you? Whatever prison it is, it still is a prison. While in prison be productive!

Pray for productivity in your prison. Do something. Do it small if you can’t do it big. Do not let your mind stray into worry. Do some business as you hunt for a job in the prison of joblessness. Pursue another course of study. Learn to play an instrument. Write a book or memoirs. While in prison be productive!

Dear God makes us productive in our various prisons. Help us to break out and make us productive as we wait. If we must die in this prison, make our prison days the best and most productive, in Jesus’ name, Amen!