In the final episode of this Faith and Finance Top 10s season, Jim Grimmer, founder of P3 Business Care shares his top ten faith and finance priorities for Christians in business.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Jim introduces himself and talks about P3 Business Care (a community interest company and social enterprise) [01:17], before going on to explain how he became a Christian. [03:25]
• Jim’s first top tip is to have integrity in all transactions, ‘doing the right thing even when no one’s watching’. Proverbs 10.9 adds weight to this point: ‘Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.’ [05:20]
• Top tip number two is to approach every aspect of business through the lens of being ‘a good steward’ of the finance and resources with which God has entrusted us. [07:04]
• Thirdly, Jim highlights the importance of seeking wisdom from God (James 1.5), ethical decision-making and standing firm on our convictions. [08:46]
• Next, Jim talks about generosity and giving as ‘a heart issue’, as illustrated by 2 Corinthians 9.7: ‘Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.’ He goes on to suggest a number of ways in which businesses can be generous in both financial and practical ways. Bex draws attention to the additional content on ‘Giving’ that was covered in Season 5 of this podcast. [10:28]
• Jim emphasises the importance of valuing employees, treating them fairly and upholding dignity in the workplace. [11:44]
• Jim suggests that financial literacy and education should be prioritised in order to equip employees to carry out business tasks and to help them deal with challenges and issues that could otherwise have a detrimental effect upon their wellbeing. [14:31]
• From personal experience, Jim describes some of the benefits – including accountability, collaboration and mutual encouragement - of developing faith-based, business-related communities and networks. [16:51]
• Another key point from Jim, and one that epitomises how P3 Business Care operates, is faith integration: weaving our beliefs into business practices. As well as enabling Christians to be fully themselves in the workplace, this approach can create nurturing and inspiring environments. When, for example, leaders model faith-driven decision-making, prioritising people over profits, this can set the agenda in a stimulating and very positive manner. [18:46]
• Jim’s penultimate tip is to avoid debt, not least because a business taking on debt can become obligated to those from whom they borrow, as suggested by Proverbs 22.7: ‘The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.’ Jim and Bex go on to mention Christians Against Poverty, which is a debt charity that can provide great support for anyone grappling with debt issues. [21:58]
• Jim’s final top tip, and the hundredth of this season, is to seek God’s guidance in decision-making through prayer and discernment. He explains some of the practical ways in which P3 Business Care seeks to put into practice the verses from Proverbs 3 that led to ‘P3’ being used in its name: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.’ [24:56]
• The next season of the podcast, airing in 2025, will look at financial matters associated with churches and charities; anyone involved in those areas is encouraged to send in requests for topics to be discussed. [28:43]

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In Episode 9 of this Faith and Finance Top 10s season, guest contributor, Dave Hall, shares his top ten money tips for teenagers.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Dave introduces himself [01:24], explaining how he became a Christian [01:57] and the steps that led him to become Youth Pastor of Catalyst Vineyard Church, Aberdeen. [03:26]
• Dave’s first top tip is to be a good steward. [06:12]
• Top tip number two is to live simply and to be generous with any surplus. [07:56]
• Thirdly, Dave highlights the importance of regarding money as a tool. Of itself, it is neither good nor bad; rather, it is ‘the love of money’ (1 Timothy 6. 10) that creates issues. [10:17]
• Next, Dave uses the example of King David (2 Samuel 24) to illustrate the importance of giving ‘until you feel it’ in response to God’s love and out of a desire to bless others. [12:31]
• Another key point for teenagers to take on board is to realise that the way that they use their money can have significant and far-reaching consequences. [15:26]
• Dave draws attention to the ways in which teenagers are influenced these days and suggests that they are more interested than we might think in receiving input from wise, genuine, trusted adults whom they know. [18:18]
• Arising from his own experience, Dave’s next tip is to learn budgeting, with the Christians Against Poverty Money Course being recommended as one good source of information and instruction on this topic. [21:57]
• Dave also feels that teenagers can benefit hugely from learning the value of saving and also of delaying gratification. [23:06]
• Dave’s penultimate tip is to be open and accountable about money matters, with ‘loud budgeting’ receiving a mention as a relatively new trend that could be helpful in this regard. [25:26]
• Dave’s final top tip is to have conversations about money little and often rather than relying on lengthy, one-off discussions. [27:28]

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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In Episode 8 of this Faith and Finance Top 10s season, Simon and Bex discuss ten top tips for Christians in the Workplace.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon’s first top tip is to know what we think about money and to have a good grasp of key values that will determine how we deal with financial matters in the workplace. [01:48]
• Top tip number two is to know why we are working, beyond simply to acquire money to pay the bills. Simon recommends ‘God at Work’ by Ken Costa as a book that can be helpful and thought-provoking on this theme. [04:16]
• Thirdly, Simon highlights the desirability of understanding the financial world and its challenges, issues and complexities. [07:52]
• Next, Simon talks about the importance of bringing our work before God on a regular basis. [10:08]
• Another key point is to talk openly with others about our work and, in particular, to endeavour to find peers operating in a similar line of work with whom we can share insights and queries. [12:08]
• Top tip number six is to embed generosity and giving into our beliefs and actions around work and the workplace. [14:37]
• In addition, the ability to develop and apply our values across a whole range of workplace situations can really help us to respond consistently in a godly and appropriate manner to new challenges and predicaments. [17:12]
• There can also be great advantages in building up a network of contacts with relevant skills and knowledge who can help us to anticipate issues, as well as being available to provide support, wisdom and encouragement in a bespoke and meaningful manner when necessary. [19:42]
• Simon’s penultimate tip is to encourage us to be bold and courageous in the workplace, to respond to prompts from our conscience and to stand up for what we believe to be right. [21:47]
• Simon’s final top tip is to reread Proverbs regularly because it has so much to say about money that can bring wisdom, thought-provoking insight and a godly perspective. [24:25]
• In the penultimate episode in this season, a guest contributor in the form of Dave Hall, youth pastor, will be giving his top ten tips for young people wanting to manage their money well. [25:52]

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.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking on this link.