Why You’re Working Harder Than You Should - RTBP Episode 225

Reason To Behold

Have you ever felt like you're grinding harder than ever, but still have nothing to show for it? Like no matter how much you earn or how many hours you put in, you're still stuck in the same financial loop? In this eye-opening episode, Arnold unpacks Ecclesiastes 10:10 and how the principle of sharpening your axe can radically transform your finances, mindset and life. With raw personal stories and powerful biblical wisdom, this episode dives deep into how consumerism and comparison dull our financial edge, and why more hustle without wisdom just leads to more exhaustion. If you’re tired of repeating the same cycles and craving real financial peace, this is the breakthrough episode you need. Key Discussion Points 00:01 – Feeling Stuck Despite Working Hard Arnold realizes earning more didn’t fix his finances—the issue was his mindset. 00:40 – Ecclesiastes 10:10: The Key Verse “If the axe is dull… he must use more strength, but wisdom brings success.” Today’s central theme. 02:08 – Consumerism’s Empty Progress Buying luxuries gave Arnold a temporary buzz but didn’t improve his situation. 08:32 – Signs of a Dull Axe Earning more but still broke? Exhausted with no results? Your axe might be blunt. 11:01 – The Spiritual Side of Spending Consumerism shapes your soul—fostering fear, comparison, and self-centeredness. 13:45 – Who’s Truly Wealthy? The debt-free cleaner vs. the flashy lawyer: redefining real richness. 17:16 – Sharpening Your Axe: 4 Tips Clarify what matters Eliminate distractions Intentional budgeting Audit financial habits + emotional triggers 21:34 – Sharpening Is a Habit Even sharp axes dull—ongoing renewal through scripture and wise habits is vital. 24:23 – More Dull Axe Symptoms Stuck cycles, fatigue, leaks, no margin, and toxic comparison signal it’s time to sharpen. 29:19 – Biblical Wisdom for Each Scenario Applying insights from Psalms, Proverbs, and Philippians to financial challenges. 36:16 – Wisdom > Effort Stop swinging harder—start sharpening smarter. 39:44 – Next Episode Tease How your relationships either sharpen or dull your financial future. Highlights From The Episode “Consumerism isn’t just a financial issue, it’s a spiritual issue.” “Freedom beats flex every single time.” “A blunt axe makes you a slave to unnecessary effort. A sharp axe multiplies your effectiveness.” “Budgeting is not punishment—it’s precision.” “You don’t need to swing harder. You need to sharpen.” Practical Steps You Can Take Reflect on Ecclesiastes 10:10 – Where in your life are you swinging harder instead of sharpening? Audit Your Expenses – Track your last 3 months of spending. Identify where the leaks are. Unplug From the Noise – Take a social media detox to silence the comparison trap. Start Budgeting With Purpose – Use your money to build, not just buy. Sharpen Daily – Play scripture like Proverbs during your drives or downtime to renew your mindset. Relevant Themes Covered Biblical financial wisdom Escaping the cycle of consumerism Kingdom vs worldly mindsets Stewardship, not survival Identity and freedom in Christ Budgeting and intentional spending Spiritual renewal and ongoing discipline Connect with RTB For podcast updates, exclusive daily devotional emails and more, join the RTB community! Sign up here: www.reasontobehold.com Got a question or want to share your thoughts and reflections from the episode? We’d love to hear from you! Contact us:[email protected]