The Arc enterpreneur podcast

Scripture Reference:

“So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.’” – Exodus 18:17-18 (NKJV)

Illich’s Law states that after a certain point, productivity not only stops increasing but actually begins to decline. This happens when we overwork ourselves, push beyond our limits, and refuse to take breaks. In business, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that constant effort leads to success. However, working past our limits can lead to exhaustion, poor decision-making, and even failure.

We see this principle in the life of Moses. In Exodus 18, Moses was trying to handle every dispute among the Israelites by himself. His father-in-law, Jethro, wisely pointed out that this was unsustainable and would lead to burnout. Moses took his advice and delegated responsibilities, which ultimately made him more effective.

Many business owners struggle with the same issue—they take on too much and refuse to slow down. Instead of increasing productivity, they become overwhelmed and ineffective. Illich’s Law reminds us that rest, delegation, and boundaries are not signs of weakness but of wisdom.

To run a successful business, we must recognize our limits and create systems that allow us to work efficiently without reaching the point of diminishing productivity. God calls us to be faithful stewards, and part of that stewardship includes managing our energy wisely so we can remain effective in the long run.

Reflection Questions:

• Are you currently overworking yourself to the point where your productivity is decreasing?

• What tasks in your business or work can you delegate to others?

• How can you implement better rest and work-life balance to sustain long-term success?