In this bonus episode, Simon and Bex talk faith and finance with Mark Whittington, Senior Lecturer in Accounting & Finance at Aberdeen University.
Some key points covered in this episode include the following:
*Mark introduces himself, explaining how he became a Christian and the steps that led him to follow a university career as an Accounting Academic. [01:30]
*In response to a query from Bex about his approach towards financial issues, Mark highlights the importance of asking good questions and being open to information and opinions from a wide range of sources and perspectives. [05:11]
Simon follows up by asking Mark whether we tend to be too ‘culturally narrow’ in our interpretation of faith and finance matters, which in turn leads to Bex recommending ‘Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible’ (by E Randolph Richards & Brandon J O'Brien) for anyone interested in delving further into that area. [09:40]
*Mark explains what he means by ‘financialization’ as a term to describe the way that money can be used as a universal form of measurement within society. [12:30]
*Simon comments that King David’s reliance on the size of his army, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 21.1-2, provides an interesting comparison with the way in which we can rely on money rather than on God and our relationship with Him. [15:44]
*Mark provides a couple of examples to illustrate how his own attitude to money as a measurement of success has changed over time. [16:55]
*Simon asks Mark to identify key questions [20:12] and principles [22:44] that he feels are significant regarding how we deal with money.
*With reference to the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12.16-21), Mark engineers a question of his own, asking Simon about how, in his professional role, he helps clients to strike a healthy balance in their relationship with money. [24:55]
*Mark mentions the temptations that were dangled before Jesus by the Devil (Luke 4.1-13) and then goes on to reflect on the importance of maintaining integrity on the journey that we each make in connection with our own finances. [31:16]
*Prompted by Bex, Simon explains that Season 7 of the ‘Where Your Treasure is…’ podcast will take as its starting point the challenge of trying to provide helpful, faith-related responses to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about financial matters on the Internet. [32:38]
Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to whereyourtreasureis@freerangepodcasting.co.uk while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.
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