Where Your Treasure Is...

About Where Your Treasure Is...

How does Christian teaching on managing our finances well tie in with the modern UK financial system? Your hosts, Simon Glazier & Bex Elder, will help you navigate the key issues of financial planning and advice with reflections on, and references to, key biblical principles that should underpin our approach to money, wealth and possessions.

Publisher

Simon Glazier and Bex Elder

Category

education · religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 May 2022

Latest episode

28 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

134 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Oct 2026

   S13 Ep5 Financial Crises: Panic Stations

   In the fifth episode of this ‘Financial Crises’ season, Simon and Bex discuss the central role that panic has played in financial crises over the years and whether or not we can do anything to protect ourselves from the potential impact of panic in our own lives. Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following: Simon explains that panic is a very natural and common response to things going wrong with our finances, making it a very important topic to try to understand and tackle. [01:33] When it comes to spotting the onset of panic and responding to that, Simon suggests that it really helps if we can step back from the situation and assess the options, taking care to guard against emotions taking over our decision-making. [04:12] Panic has been so strongly associated with financial turmoil that an early nineteenth century American banking crisis became known as ‘The Panic’, a term that was then used for several subsequent financial crises. [06:33] For Bex and Simon, the global financial crisis of 2007-08 was the first time that they felt for themselves the shockwaves from institutional panic and realised that even well-established and highly respected banks could fail if the pressure on them were to become overwhelming. Images of queues of people waiting outside Northern Rock to withdraw their savings brought home the severity of the situation. [08:04] In response to a question from Bex about why panic still breaks out regularly in a modern world that has the capacity to deal with problems, Simon suggests that the interconnectedness of financial systems these days is a key factor. The natural inclination of humans to go into ‘fight or flight’ mode when situations seem to be spiralling out of control adds fuel to the fire. [09:59] When it comes to ways of guarding against the onset of panic, Simon recommends holding news reports and the media at arm’s length because of their propensity to stimulate fear and greed by the way that they present financial matters to us. [11:47] When it comes to the biblical perspective on the human tendency to worry and panic, Philippians 4.6-7 is the obvious first port of call: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, send your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ [14:45] In the same chapter in Philippians, in verses eleven to thirteen, Paul goes on to tease us with an Instagram-worthy statement, ‘I have learned the secret of being content,’ before going on to say that the solution is to take our worries and anxieties to God. [18:20] As well as exhorting us to adopt an eternal perspective and ‘store up treasures in heaven’ (Matthew 6.20), the Bible also passes on nuggets of practical financial wisdom, such as the importance of diversifying investments. (Ecclesiastes 1.1-2) [19:13] Simon rounds off his thoughts for this episode by encouraging us to seek God’s will in all that we do (Proverbs 3.5-6), and also to be practical and realistic in our financial planning, as illustrated by Jesus’s example (in Luke 14.28-30) of an individual wanting to build a tower but needing to set aside the money for the project beforehand. [21:54] Bex invites listeners to share their experiences of having to deal with panic in their lives and notes that the next episode in this season will focus on rogue traders and their role in financial crises. [23:48] Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to whereyourtreasureis@freerangepodcasting.co.uk (mailto:whereyourtreasureis@freerangepodcasting.co.uk) while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast (https://www.instagram.com/whereyourtreasureispodcast). Our Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/whereyourtreasureispodcast) will also provide you with additional content and features. This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting (https://www.freerangepodcasting.co.uk/). 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 here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6 (https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6)

2. 

   13 Oct 2026

   S13 Ep4 Financial Crises: The Thing About Bubbles…

   In the fourth episode of this ‘Financial Crises’ season, Simon and Bex discuss what we can learn from crises caused by financial ‘bubbles’ that burst. Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following: Simon explains that financial bubbles occur when the cost of an item rises quickly to a level that is much higher than it is actually worth. This happens because of speculation, with people buying into the product in the hope of getting rich quick; however, buying can suddenly turn into a frenzy of selling when it is felt that prices have reached their peak. [02:15] Investing, on the other hand, involves committing to a financial venture and then sharing in the profits as the investment grows over time, resulting in a positive-sum game. [04:05] A key difference between investing and speculating is the time scale, with investors committing for the long haul while speculators aim to take the money and run as soon as they think that the highest price has been reached. [05:12] Bex and Simon discuss two historical financial bubbles, the first one being ‘Tulip Mania’, which caused chaos in Amsterdam’s financial market in 1637. In fact, the collapse in the price of tulips did not have a long-lasting effect on the economy, mainly because buyers had generally paid only a small deposit on their purchases; nevertheless, it became the classic example of a financial bubble bursting because it was the first widely known example of the phenomenon and also because it is such a good illustration of a product being ridiculously overpriced. [06:22] Then, in 1720, a major financial crash – the South Sea Bubble – occurred when investors started regarding the South Sea Company as a surefire bet because of its trading rights and its widespread support from investors, politicians and even royalty. Once the share price started to go down, however, it became evident that their confidence was misplaced and its value then proceeded to fall at a much faster rate than it had grown. [08:58] The dot-com boom and bust events between 1995 and 2002 were the most striking recent example of a financial bubble bursting. The hype surrounding the potential profits to be made from investing in technology companies was so extreme that the situation became untenable, resulting in the Nasdaq Stock Market losing 75% of its value (15 trillion dollars!) in just two and a half years. [12:17] In reply to a question from Bex about the possibility of overpricing of shares in Artificial Intelligence companies causing a new financial bubble, Simon suggests that this will depend on (i) whether or not prices retain a meaningful relationship with the actual value of assets, and (ii) whether or not the technology companies ultimately deliver significant added value through their products and innovations. [15:16] When it comes to a strategy for investing in products and companies that are attracting high prices but may be significantly inflated, Simon suggests going for a balanced and diversified portfolio that is aiming for long-term growth rather than short-term gains. [16:42] As far as a Christian approach to investing is concerned, Simon suggests that our motivation should be to resist the allure of getting rich quick and, instead, to follow biblical principles of stewarding wealth in a responsible and prudent manner. [19:47] Any listeners wishing to hear more of Simon’s thoughts on investing might want to listen to previous podcast episodes on this topic, especially from Season 1 (https://where-your-treasure-is.captivate.fm/episode/investing). [22:12] Our next episode in this season will be published in a fortnight’s time (on 28 October) rather than coming out next week, as suggested by Bex. What we can agree on, however, is that the content of that episode is being kept under wraps for now! [22:28] Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to whereyourtreasureis@freerangepodcasting.co.uk (mailto:whereyourtreasureis@freerangepodcasting.co.uk) while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast (https://www.instagram.com/whereyourtreasureispodcast). Our Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/whereyourtreasureispodcast) will also provide you with additional content and features. This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting (https://www.freerangepodcasting.co.uk/). 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 here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6 (https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6)

3. 

   29 Sept 2026

   S13 Ep3 Financial Crises: Ponzi Schemes

   In the third episode of this ‘Financial Crises’ season, Simon and Bex discuss what we can learn from classic get-rich-quick ventures, such as Ponzi schemes. Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following: Introducing this week’s topic, Simon explains that Ponzi schemes are a really good example of the way in which money can gain a powerful grip on our hearts and cause us to make unwise financial decisions purely because of a fear of missing out on a big payout. [00:44] To illustrate the way in which people are manipulated to join Ponzi schemes, Simon tries out his best persuasive techniques on Bex! [01:39] Ponzi schemes have existed before and after Charles Ponzi’s money-making projects in 1920s America, but his scam involving postage stamps (international reply coupons) was the classic example of an investment pitch which had absolutely no substance. In theory, he could have built up a profit from buying and selling stamps in different countries to take advantage of post-war currency fluctuations. In practice, he simply talked a good game and relied on money flowing in from subsequent investors to reward the early adopters of the scheme. However, when the money-go-round eventually came to a crashing halt, as it was bound to do, it was not only investors who suffered – six banks failed because of their involvement with Mr Ponzi! [04:57] Bernie Madoff used similarly deceptive techniques to build up his financial empire, which eventually collapsed in 2008. It is estimated that he managed to defraud over 65 billion dollars from investors who thought that they were buying into a legitimate investment strategy, spearheaded by a well known and highly respected Wall Street icon! [08:26] A key learning point from the devastating effect of Ponzi schemes over the years is that if a financial proposition sounds too good to be true, then it probably is! [10:13] Getting reliable investment advice, based on sound research and understanding, is not always a straightforward task, especially when finfluencers (financial influencers on social media) and other non-expert voices are prominent these days. If you are seeking serious financial advice, the best approach is to consult a regulated individual or firm from the register maintained by the Financial Conduct Authority (https://register.fca.org.uk/s/). [11:47] Simon comments that the Book of Proverbs is a particularly good source of pithy and unambiguous warnings about the dangers of chasing money, especially when expressed in a contemporary translation: the New Living Translation of Proverbs 13.1, for example, says, ‘Wealth from get rich quick schemes quickly disappears. Wealth from hard work grows over time.’ And Proverbs 20.17 states that, ‘Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouthful of gravel.’ [14:33] When asked whether Bitcoin is a Ponzi scheme, Simon observes that there are similarities between the two, but Bitcoin initiatives tend not to have a single promoter in the way that Ponzi schemes do. Simon also comments that he would define Bitcoin as an example of speculation rather than being a genuine investment activity. [16:14] Pyramid schemes mirror the approach taken by Ponzi in that they, too, have a strong hierarchical structure, with early adopters likely to benefit the most. Pyramid schemes do, though, trade genuine products; it’s just that the pricing mechanism is deeply flawed and ultimately leads to the goods being massively overpriced. [19:11] Simon’s concluding remark is to, ‘Get rich slow’, taking advantage of tried, tested and legitimate means of growing financial resources over time. [20:59] For her part, Bex reminds us of the importance of prioritising the things that we regard as ‘true riches’, such as relationships, how we spend our time and being generous. [21:28] Our next episode in this season will look at how financial bubbles are created and how we should respond to them. [21:49] Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to whereyourtreasureis@freerangepodcasting.co.uk (mailto:whereyourtreasureis@freerangepodcasting.co.uk) while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast (https://www.instagram.com/whereyourtreasureispodcast). Our Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/whereyourtreasureispodcast) will also provide you with additional content and features. This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting (https://www.freerangepodcasting.co.uk/). 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 here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6 (https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6)

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