Thank you for joining us here on #Christian Straight Talk - today's podcast is a discussion on money, and the biblical principles of being a good steward with Wealth and what the wealth opens the door to, looking at Mark chapter 10 verse 17, as the Bible says in the New Testament "For the love of money is the root of all evil."
Thank you for joining us here on #Christian Straight Talk - today's podcast is a discussion on money, and the biblical principles of being a good steward with Wealth and what the wealth opens the door to, looking at Mark chapter 10 verse 17, as the Bible says in the New Testament "For the love of money is the root of all evil."
Good morning and welcome. Thank you so much for joining us here today. #Christian straight talk. You're joining myself, myself and myself. And we've got our good brother with us this morning. Simon pinchbeck and we are we are feeling loaded today with a word of God. We are feeling it today. You know God is so good. Wherever you are across the earth, never give up. God is with you is always hope. Give the gospel app give the word of God out. SIMON What we're looking at today.
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, Ben, and good morning to everyone across across the world, wherever, wherever you are. It's just great to be back across the mics with you again, Ben this morning. And I don't know that. We're going to talk about money.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Give me Give me Give me that couple of quid you have written him a few IOUs.
Simon Pinchbeck:We're going to talk about money. And really, what does the Bible say about money? What does the Lord say about money? What did Jesus say about money? Ben? You know, Jesus, I read this morning that Jesus had 39 parables and 11 out of 39 talked about money because really makes a big thing in it a big distraction. We all need a few quid denlinger
Reverend Ben Cooper:I love it. I'm not going to be perfectly on I love a few quid. We all need it. No. What does the few quid not to do? Just have money take me to the cross? Or does it take me to a world?
Simon Pinchbeck:I think it all depends. It all depends where it is in your heart. And we'll come on to that thing because the Bible really speaks powerfully about money and how it gets a hold of Pete Yeah. And money does
Reverend Ben Cooper:you know it burns old in my pockets is
Simon Pinchbeck:like crazy that money makes people crazy. You know?
Reverend Ben Cooper:What a wrong thing to say. But why what
Simon Pinchbeck:some people have to be good because they can't afford to be money, they money money is everything in it.
Reverend Ben Cooper:That's such a wrong isn't everything in it. But it's true. Nothing is everything pays nothing is nothing. So we
Simon Pinchbeck:need a few quid to live. Yeah. But it's where we put it I think in in, in our priorities. And we forget the way we forget that. What does the Bible say? Yeah, we forget but we forget that every single penny we've got is given to us from the Lord. The big question is the Lord's money is
Reverend Ben Cooper:ours. When you look at the prosperity gospel, the triangle and the salesman they're great salesmen and they sell the go sell the gospel. And people are so in in that that triangle the satanic way that they so this is not about we are not looking at the prosperity gospel the way they do that this is how do I react with money? Am I a good steward with money? I'm a terrible struggle with money, you know? And what worries me if I was given quite a few quid where would it take me seriously?
Simon Pinchbeck:But I'm gonna I'm gonna quickly answer that for you because to be honest with you without going into detail where the people who are listening to this you a few good few quick did drop into your lap a year or so ago serious amount of coffee again, what you've done with it, you've built this podcast room, you've you've renovated the church, and now you ain't got a pot.
Reverend Ben Cooper:The pot that I will I'm actually back to what I used to be doing I got barbed wire scratches on the back to duck and dive and
Simon Pinchbeck:but what are you done with you? This place is just amazing. I was sitting in this podcast room which before we were seeing
Reverend Ben Cooper:what was in but you are right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You are very very true with that one. We there was a serious amount of money but it took nine years to get it it was seriously it was a lot of
Simon Pinchbeck:a lot of things. Yeah, of course you got the you got a new car, she got a
Reverend Ben Cooper:ski lodge and I've got all that sort of stuff for the rest of it. The rest of it. I gave the pound back to Jesus.
Simon Pinchbeck:Every single every point has gone into this building and you can see
Reverend Ben Cooper:actually to be fair, if anyone said well, they was given all that dosh. Show me what you're done with it. If you walked into the building and see what we've done, the money that we got, which is really amazing. is less than the value of what we got it just see what I mean. So we sold it every penny we just went right Bosch straight back in for the community for the worker the gospel, everything was given and what we have is more than the value of the few underground that we add. So if you have that if you looked at that pot what was and you looked at what we got, what we got is more almost more than doubled. And you think added that ever happened and that shouldn't have worked. So we have seen a supernatural growth through. Now I could have I could have, oh, what could I could have done so much I could have I, I could have done, it could have done. But it was put back in put straight in. And it actually didn't come from this church kitty whatsoever. So the church had no understanding. Some of them don't even know where the money come from, they might have fought off, sold a few bags on the white oak at a little Grow Room in the loft. You know, I mean, a lead line roof sign,
Simon Pinchbeck:but, but what you've done with it, but and he's just, you know, really because, you know, for the last year, we've been stepping over style builders, and the bill has been reduced in the plaster is in the lot. And they've all been influenced by the word of God. And what yeah, it's just amazing. That is just amazing. And you know what a blessing.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Simon mentioned about the Word of God and the builders that came in here, really fantastic builders and everything went on and are our friends, the Gideon friends, as you know, what they do is they just give the word of God our older builders all received the Bible, but you know what? All and Bibles went in their tool bags and I see them. And they started quoting scripture at me in the morning when he's to come in. Do you know what the Bible says there? Isn't that interesting?
Simon Pinchbeck:Very interesting. And the one bricklayer, Clive, Clive Yeah, even bought, even bought flags and football Jesus is Lord and
Reverend Ben Cooper:Lord, and it was stapled to the front holding and a scaffold.
Simon Pinchbeck:So that money you Yeah, you could have used it for you. And you could have said, seriously, you could have said you could have, you know, your family could have been set up the whole nine
Reverend Ben Cooper:yards or nine. Yeah, every penny went into God's kingdom. And this is really true for that none of the money was raised through any means through a limb or anything, nothing like that straight out of nowhere. All them years of grafting straight back into the kingdom of God and what we've got full of value don't add up. It's double. So the loaves and the fish that's what comes to mind
Simon Pinchbeck:even the monetary value don't oppose in too insignificant insignificance compared to what the value of what the value of what what you've got on a value of what you're doing with it. And as we've been talking this morning, all we want to do with hashtag Christian Straight Talk is getting the word of God out. We're gonna get the Gospels out. That's it. Some it's fallen across our path. And very soon in the next couple of weeks prior to getting the Gospel of John out beautiful under the under the banner of hashtag Christian Australia has nothing to do with us. But we are getting that out into everyone's mind. And 1000s of people's and so yeah, so money, money. And it's all about the heart in it all about what it is where it is in your heart. And Ben,
Reverend Ben Cooper:thanks for bringing out that assignment. Because that's quite important to me, because I forgot that. Because when we because this this is a personal podcast, and I forgot all about what, what we've done with that massive amount. But now I'm talking to me as an individual. Because I've always thought to myself, if I was given, where would I actually go? Do you know, that's quite a worry to me, because I'm quite a dodgy one in the area, because you've never had a part in your apartment, never had a pot and I've had to duck and die for a pot. And it's not I mean, it's been, you know, parts have come strange ways. And that's very strange, why
Simon Pinchbeck:you had to duck and dive and pull a few quid in there, pull a few quid in there and the Lord's Jaws, but you know, you know, I know we're gonna dig deeper into this in a second, but we'll just stay on that for a moment. I remember. You know, I was I was out with my wife and you know, you were showing me the the auction for the auction on that property on that property and the way he just went through the roof in it and when I was just astounded, astonished and so will you but you've used it so was wisely for the kingdom and now we're sitting in with God's beautiful podcast in room and we're what we're going to do with this thing is gonna go through to it and what you do with you know, with with the other podcasts you do is just phenomenal. And so we've got to say you as a very watched wise steward of at least once so once or one
Reverend Ben Cooper:for one that was
Simon Pinchbeck:that was a big one. You know, that was it was a it was a life changing some of money could have been Gen out. And you know what it's brought the community in, and it's but it's made us realize people say, Yeah, Ben It's a life changing sum of money. They mean for you individually and individual but they It's just been a life changing sum of money for
Reverend Ben Cooper:the community, nearly 100% 1000s of people, and also it's made my workspace and my ministry time, comfortable. So I've benefited so much as well, obviously, being the pastor of this church, and over long the Lord carries me here and all that old stuff that goes along with that. So it's twofold, isn't it, you've put it in, you've invested it into the kingdom of God, God has blessed me, as you know, in a comfortable place to work and to podcast and all them dreams and visions that we've had, and all that about what we do suddenly come. And it shouldn't have happened to a church where we are, it's impossible. But that's the thing. It's impossible.
Simon Pinchbeck:And I think it's a lesson for for a believer to learn, you know, before I was a believer, I spent a little bit of time on the wrong side of the tracks. And you know, I've seen more cash than that sitting on the table. But it goes, it goes, it's gone. We've all done it. Trips to Florida, a couple things here. And there it goes, it disappears, and you've got nothing to show for it. But rather than a Mickey Mouse, you've got fat belly. Oh, me. Yeah, that's a tribute got nothing to show for it. But here we've got, you know, we've tangible got
Reverend Ben Cooper:evidence, you've got evidence that God multiplies. And it comes back to what you were saying earlier about the loaves and the fish, what you have in your hands at this moment, it doesn't matter how little less it is, it might be a pound, it might be whatever. If you give that to Christ, you give that to Jesus, the loaves and the fish, you're looking around, you're thinking, hang on a minute, there's 5000 people here, we ain't gonna do the money, I got the food I got, I can't feed the kids, I can't do this, I can't do that can't pay the gas bill. Jesus is saying give everything to me. I'll give it back. So it looks the same, but you've got a blessing on it, you start distributing it, and it will never run out.
Simon Pinchbeck:I think that's a great point, Ben, because, you know, if you're sitting there thinking, you've got nothing, then bring your nothing to the Lord really does with it. You know, in Ozar, it says it will give you a Beauty for Ashes. And so I honestly think, you know, you're in a great place. If you've got nothing, you're in a great place, bring your nothing to the Lord and see what he does with it. You know, that's the thing. That's
Reverend Ben Cooper:the thing. And do you think also, when we're taught, we're talking about money, but we're talking about giving, so given is on many level in it. So if we if people are going well, I got a quick rub together at the minute you give your heart and God I shall God shall supply all my knees. So although we're talking about money, giving as well, is about giving your heart isn't it?
Simon Pinchbeck:Oh, yeah. No, it's not given to expect something back. And a lot of people do that, because they read in the Bible, you know, the Lord will press it down. And they'll be it because and so. And that's the thing that the prosperity gospel, they try and sow into that give us your money, and the Lord will bless you. So if you've given it with that sort of heart, it's wrong. And we're going to you know, we haven't hit a scripture yet, because there's some been some very good stuff coming coming up. But we're gonna get a scripture, Ben, it's about the rich young ruler, right? And, and this is an important and really important scripture when it comes to money. Because it's mentioned Jesus mentions it isn't it's mentioned in three of the four Gospels. It's mentioned in Luke is mentioned in Matthew, and it's mentioned in Mark and, and, and Mark is a real good one that we're going to go into that one because it's Mark 1017. And it goes on to 27. And we're just gonna go through it when sort of slips by stage. Are you okay for me to read it out? Ben?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Come on. Now you read, you read the word come on.
Simon Pinchbeck:It says Jesus counselors, the rich young ruler, and it says, Now it was going out on the road, and one came running up and knelt before him and asked him, good teacher, what shall I do that might I may inherit eternal life? So Jesus said to him, why do you call Me good? No one is good, but one, that is God, You know the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father, a mother? And he answered, and he said to him, Teacher, all these things I kept from my youth. And this next bit is important, because it's not mentioned in Luke or Matthew, He says, Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him. Wow, Jesus
Reverend Ben Cooper:loved him. Jesus loved him.
Simon Pinchbeck:How powerful was that? And he said to him, one thing you like, go away. And so whatever you have, give to the poor or do you will have treasure in heaven, and come and take up your cross and follow me.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Look at that line that Jesus says Jesus looked at him and loved him loved it. There is nothing more than anyone could ever ask in now an eternity for Christ to look at you and love you. It makes you want to cry, didn't it?
Simon Pinchbeck:Yeah. as well, I'm willing up here because here's the one thing you lack though
Reverend Ben Cooper:he said, Yeah, he loved him. Even though even though
Simon Pinchbeck:he knew his heart, you see where his heart was. Now, one thing you lack, and it goes on to say, but he was sad this word and he went away sorrowful and because he had great possessions now, you know, I don't know, Ben, I'm gonna ask you this question because Because we'll stay a little while Yeah, yeah. And if if the rich young ruler had gone Yes, Jesus, I'm gonna do all that. Honest honestly think Jesus might have turned around and gone. You've said enough. You don't have to you don't have to do all that. You don't have to sell that. But But I know your heart. Your heart is with me. But his heart was was was with his money and his possessions. Yes. So he loved the Lord. He loved the law. But that came second to his love for
Reverend Ben Cooper:money. So session that sir, so God in his life, even though Christ was in front of them, was the money is either was money. Yeah, his idol is, was the money. So one thing you like, Jesus still loved him. Now in Jesus loved Jesus is telling him you lack there's one thing you lack, but I still love you. I love you. But then he went away says the man fell on his face and went away, because he had great wealth.
Simon Pinchbeck:And then he says goes on to say he was then she just looked around and said to his disciples, he says, how hard is it for those who have reduced to enter the kingdom of God? Wow.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And look what it says up a little bit further as well. Backing up the Scripture a little bit said. And Jesus said them when he say that, go into the guts sell everything you got in verse 21. Jesus loved him and loved him. Sorry, same text. One thing you lack he said, Go sell everything you have and give to the poor. And then you will have treasured and then come on follow me or so that's that is a massive that's where it takes to all of us.
Simon Pinchbeck:It because he goes on. It goes on. Yeah. In Matthew 621. He says, Where your treasure is, so is where your highs, Denning Wow. So is he know where his art was? So this is, you know, you you're an avid Jesus, you know, on know where your heart is? Yeah, bro, I love you. I love you because you you love God, but you love money and possessions more. So Jesus
Reverend Ben Cooper:looked at him before anything was said really and everything was was done. He looked at him. And he said, I love you. Yeah. And he looked at him and he loved him. But Christ was telling him that's really comforting, isn't it? The Christ looked at the character Christ looked at Noah and Christ knew what he loved. He knew what this man really crave for and what you put up in front of everything and everyone but Christ still loved him.
Simon Pinchbeck:Cry still loved him he loved even though
Reverend Ben Cooper:he had idols in his life even though he loved the cash
Simon Pinchbeck:now we don't know what happened to rich we don't know he might have gone away thought about it and gone Do you know what you know what you're right Jesus, I'm gonna do this and the other but but for the purpose of this parable. It really this story it really is right because he
Reverend Ben Cooper:talks about ministry as well really didn't it? Because it says go and sell everything so a minister shouldn't own anything. It's quite a quite a dangerous areas talk area to knock
Simon Pinchbeck:sure about that. Then because listen, is the thing. It's okay to have a few quid
Reverend Ben Cooper:now. Yeah, I'm referring to, to hammer home. It's okay. whatever
Simon Pinchbeck:vehicle you publish, it's where it is in your
Reverend Ben Cooper:in your priority is your stacking system of where it is complex. Where do I stack because he's
Simon Pinchbeck:gone? And the disciples were astonished whose words But Jesus answered him against his children. How hard it is for those who trust in riches. Right. So he says, who trust in riches? Yeah. So if you put your trust in the richest and the richest, you're in trouble, you've got to put your trust, you can have a few quid wrapped around you. But so you
Reverend Ben Cooper:might have a business acumen and you might have a business and you've got a few quid you're a believer, that's fine, great and wonderful. But it's or a pastor that has inherited Saturday or wherever you are, as a believer, it doesn't matter your position in the church. Whatever position I'm in, it's where do i Where do I put the priority Christ and money Christ or money Christ? Where is it? Is it Christ first, or is it is it the money is it? Is it Father, Son, Holy Spirit, or is it cash, cash cash?
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, you know, I know I know a lot of men very much like this rich young girl who have made over self made men who have made it Yes, hello, Fortune stale, you know, probably, you know millionaires in their own right. But fail to surrender to Jesus because they can't accept that, that Jesus without Jesus because they say I look what I've made, and then they love the law. But look what I've done
Reverend Ben Cooper:blue what I've done. So there we comes the eye understanding I have created so the eye is lifting up the pound sign and myself higher than God. But then also we have the the brothers and sisters that have a few quid that actually keep it very quiet, but do God's work and sow into the kingdom.
Simon Pinchbeck:And yeah, and I hear this as well, you know, I hear this, that God has given me a gift to make money. And now I'm going to,
Reverend Ben Cooper:I'm sowing it,
Simon Pinchbeck:I'm sucking it out. So when you, you get these guys across the table is very interesting to hear what they've got to say, you know, because they go, Listen, this is not about AI, it's this is all good stuff.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And it's every possibility because it's not about AI, God has given the gift because God has entrusted the gift to further the kingdom of God
Simon Pinchbeck:because they go, God has given me a gift to make money. He hasn't given me a gift of to speak or evangelize, or whatever. But this is what I can do.
Reverend Ben Cooper:This is how I can decide I can support I can support the preachers, I can support the ministries, I can support the homes, I can put food in people's cupboards, I can do this because God has only given me the capability because I can only do this because he has given entrusted me with this. So being a good steward of money is massive. So that's all that's your that's, that's enormous in it. So if you are a really rich person, God bless you in the name of Jesus, thank God for those that are sewn in. So you've got two sides of the two this again, yeah, there are many that are believers that are on two sides of this that have the cash that are sowing into the kingdom, and others that are still believers that are holding on to the cash. It's, it's it's the stewardship, it's the stewardship of what you got,
Simon Pinchbeck:what you're what you've been given. And, you know, this is interesting, because Jesus goes on to say, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Now that you know, you will, you'll hear many countries on on on that and what it means but it is pretty simple. If you know you sew it down, if you draw it down, it's very difficult for a rich man who puts his just in his wealth. Yeah. And they said, Well, who can be saved? And Jesus looked at him and said, with men, it is impossible not with God, for With God, all things are possible. So it's all you know, as we go on these podcasts, it's all about, it's all about a heart. And
Reverend Ben Cooper:it's quite tricky in it and more you're talking about open this up is getting my brain really ticking. Because then you think, right, if I had the money, and I make that my idol I make that my my my place of worship, then suddenly, I know I'm saved. But I'm not a good steward. So being a steward of money, I think can be that one of the most trickiest areas of life as money opens the door to everything across the earth. But when you look at her majesty that was laid to rest a few weeks ago now. And you watch that her casket in the car, all that she had, didn't go with her. Everything, the notoriety, you know, there was 6.1 billion people was watching that. She was probably the most well known person on the earth at this particular point. She had, she had everything, but went out with nothing. So whatever we have on this earth, the treasures that we have, are not going to go with us.
Simon Pinchbeck:Well, you know, it clearly says Done it been in Matthew 621. It says, Where your treasure is, so is your heart. And he says in Matthew 624 He says you can't serve two masters, you can't now. And if we look back in Mark, it says whoever desires to come after me let him deny himself take up his cross and follow me for whoever decides to save his life will lose it but whoever loses life for my sake, and the Gospels will save it. And this is the most important bit and this for us what we're saying today says for what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but lose his own soul? Whoa. So you can be the richest man in hell Kanye
Reverend Ben Cooper:would be the richest man in the hottest place in the world. You got to hate
Simon Pinchbeck:you, you know For us, then we'd rather we'd rather be the poorest men but ask Jesus if Jesus couldn't be the richest man without him
Reverend Ben Cooper:exactly Hebrews 13 Verse five yeah beat says our keep your life free from the love of that's interesting.
Simon Pinchbeck:as same as wanting it Timothy 610 Ben people misquote that done they all the time they say money is the root of all evil but they miss out that one word that you just said I love it. This love give me
Reverend Ben Cooper:love give me a pound Jesus give me the prosperity gospel give me give me a year you God's gonna make so many times where you're at this country you are going to be rich you're going to be this you're going to be that you're going to be a millionaire COVID comes in that was a big thing I think in the prosperity gospel all the prophetic speak before that even a month before that all the all the pressing of Money money money, money money and then suddenly the globe shut down and it made you realize that money can't buy your salvation.
Simon Pinchbeck:Well look where we are now Ben you know the interest rates have gone up by people are struggling to pay their mortgage at the same time you know, we appreciate what's going on out there because we're in it ourselves. We're right in the thick of it energy prices everything's gonna cost to live in Scotland Do you know you're not you know what them cigars are more expensive
Reverend Ben Cooper:to cut that down? I can't wear me Michael can't buy any more Michael Kors watches I've got a guard down write down a Casio. Yeah. So you fill in the PDF and you can't get me food out of m&s and Mr. Drop right away down to the corner shop. So there's a change in the air.
Simon Pinchbeck:You know, I've been in a situation where, you know, I've had a lot of money, cash, cash rich, but you know, five things I learned about about money, Ben, if you've put it as your number one aim in life, if you put it as Bang. The more you get,
Reverend Ben Cooper:the more you want. Yeah, because the more you got, the more it looks little you want. Yeah, I want it. Give me more Give me more. Give me more. More. Maybe I want more.
Simon Pinchbeck:But it's the opposite in the kingdom is typically opposite. complete opposite the more you want of Jesus. Yeah. The more you want. But the more you get, the more you spend. The more you get, the more you lose. The more you get, the more you're worrying, and the more you get the more you leave. Yeah, then five things five thing is that you don't see a funeral car do you do many funerals? You don't see a funeral called rock up with a seven bedroom house on the back of it do you? Box Have you said about the Queen you can't take it with a wooden
Reverend Ben Cooper:box with your soy in it. So that Hebrews 13 Five let me read that all the way through a keep your life from the love of money, be content with what you have. For he said this, I will never leave you nor forsake you be content or whatever we've got. Less is always best to a degree. Because when you realize all I've got isn't enough so I need Jesus. So when I realize I need Jesus he shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory. And then when I'm a good steward with less be faithful in little so it comes down to stewardship obedience is
Simon Pinchbeck:all the time any in the Bible trust me I am divine your gratitudes divine you could do nothing apart from it is all about trust. So all of the trust and belief no matter so for people that that really love money less is more and because yeah, you know, yeah, if if you're putting your trust in, then it's, it says don't put your trust. He says don't put your trust in stuff which will wear away in a mosque and get at it. Put your trust in Jesus. Trust, just trust and believe in him.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Look at the cross. Look at Christ. Hebrews 12 Verse two, Ecclesiastes five says, chapter 10 He who loves money will not be satisfied whenever I'm with money.
Simon Pinchbeck:Now there's an interesting character in it. It was the guy that wrote that. Elon Musk
Reverend Ben Cooper:Oh no, sorry. I forgot what the richest man actually is that little fella? A little fella that add 1234 500 600 700 wives
Simon Pinchbeck:over the geezer Solomon my ears II was ever lived now. No one's ever gonna be Richard and Solomon.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Now II can't know he was the richest man no one on earth can be any ever rich and and what this man was both sin the richest man.
Simon Pinchbeck:But what did he say? He wrote Ecclesiastes. And what did he say? In Ecclesiastes one. He said it's all vanished See your variances in it on translating and other translations about it's
Reverend Ben Cooper:all meaningless. It's all empty. It's meaningless. It's meaningless. All this lifestyle that I've got around me and I've got the heart i It's almost like him saying, I own the world. But you know what? It's empty. It's empty. I've got all the trappings of materialism. I've got more money than anybody. I've got more women than anybody. I've got more homes. I've got more. I've got more than anyone will ever have on this earth. And it's pointless. When, you know,
Simon Pinchbeck:a sort of pleasure, didn't he? So you're right. He had 700 wives his fellow he had 300 concubines so six Mike this guy,
Reverend Ben Cooper:Alec Hi emails that built been built like on
Simon Pinchbeck:and he had the biggest swimming pool world's ever seen. He had 12 Lions surrounding it. And he had 40,000 horses. Ben does you know, this case, he had
Reverend Ben Cooper:a bit of gambling.
Simon Pinchbeck:It was the wisest man who ever lived. He was a richest man that ever lived. He said it was all vanity. It's all meaningless.
Reverend Ben Cooper:The richest person on the earth has gone. There will never be anyone richer than this man that owned as much as what he owned. And he wrote a great powerful Old Testament text. Do you know what boys and girls don't chase it is no point. It will not give you the fulfillment. So what is writing through the book of Ecclesiastes? I've got all this. And I'm telling you now, I'm still not satisfied. I'm still hungry. What are you hungry for Solomon? Is God
Simon Pinchbeck:and we see all the time and we see all with with people that in the modern day rice, that's awkward, a greasy pole would have been promised. Everything, everything. And when they get everything, it's still nothing, they still nothing, they still emptiness,
Reverend Ben Cooper:emptiness, it's still empty. He says that there then he the greatest the man that could produce wealth more than any, any money making machine in the world. This was the cat this he was the dog above dogs when he was he was the daddy of all daddies. And he says in Ecclesiastes five verse 10. Again, let me read that all the way through says For he who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income. This is all vanity. So money opens a door to wealth, wealth opens the door to attraction attraction opens a door to dangerous people. People are attracted to you because of what you've got materially, they will nip late you in shape. They won't really love you because they're after the money.
Simon Pinchbeck:You know, it's very interesting because I watched a film that's, you know, is the oldest film now I guess the other day it was called Brewster's millions, right? I know it was Watson. I'm prior Richard Pryor at two. He had to spend 30 million in 30 days and I have nothing to show for it in the end for him to air it 300 million, you know, and it was interesting thing, because while he had this 40 million he was thrown out like a man with 10 arms. He had 1000s of people around him exactly. But well on that last night, when the last part is fine if you had no one.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, that's true, isn't it? How biblically true is that all the time you got wealth. The world wants you. Everybody loves you. Not really loving you. But they say they love you. But who is around you when you've got nothing? When you don't have a pound true friends, don't open up whoever you got around you when you got a shopping trolley, and it's empty. Who is actually around you in your life? Who supports you when you have nothing? Because when you've got it, look at the lottery winners. Bosch suddenly they win the lottery. Everyone pops out. Everyone's out. I work with him. He's my best friend him. Let us come through. But all the time. Us on Universal Credit. No, no, no, yes.
Simon Pinchbeck:Donald Trump says something. The Donald says something a few years ago before he was President. He said one time he said in my life I like to lose it all. So I could know who was the real people around me.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, because what because what he's saying in that and what the scripture says is you don't know who really is for you or against you because lip service is empty. You know Yeah, money brings out money brings out all types of trouble doesn't it really when you think about it like Solomon said here, he said look, he said For he who loves money is not satisfied. So for for an instance, the more money I've got, I will never be satisfied because I want more money but the more money I got brings well from and what that brings is such a serious income the income brings a ton traction and people and situations around me that are looking to gain their own gain. Who do I trust? Who is actually for me, who is actually in my life? Who's in your corner, who is in my corner, I will find a free Father, Son, Holy Spirit, because He says on the end of that, I'll never leave you nor forsake you. Because I'll
Simon Pinchbeck:never leave your site. You put your trust in Mays sign, it says that all the way through the Gospels. Put your trust in me leave. It didn't ask you. It didn't He doesn't ask you for anything but just to believe and trust. That's
Reverend Ben Cooper:that's so true. So when it literally says it says to the fisherman at the shoreline, drop your nets come and follow Me. Their nets were everything their net produce wealth than net produce food, then net one money making machines. And Jesus said, drop your money making machines, drop your business, drop your life drop everything you got, what that net represents uncover follow me.
Simon Pinchbeck:And it's not easy, because we've said it before. It's like, it's like the salmon swimming against flow in it. Because what does what does Paul say in Romans 12, two, he says, Don't conform to the pattern of this world and a mind be transformed. And so if the pattern of the world is get more money, get more, more, more, more, more, more, more, bigger house, bigger car, bigger everything, bigger bank, everything. But Jesus is saying less less.
Reverend Ben Cooper:We sign up. But you need to be putting me first. So isn't that put me first there's a biblical order. It's it's fine to be rich, cash rich, it's fine to be all that. But it's what do I put in what older first? That is the that is the greatness and the clear understanding, isn't it?
Simon Pinchbeck:He's clear. Ben,
Reverend Ben Cooper:what is the older is clear? It's fine to have it God find but don't don't worship it. Don't make it your your goal. I'm first above above family. I'm above business. I'm above money. I'm above everything, above everything. But if I asked you to drop everything, would you drop everything?
Simon Pinchbeck:That's the big that? Does that matter?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Because all of us would. It doesn't matter how rich you are in it. It doesn't matter how poor you are. Because when Christ says leave your father and mother, leave your family, leave, let the dead bury their dead. Drop your nets because what you're saying when you bring all these biblical texts together is saying you need to follow me above everything. Above everything, but by following me. You'll get it back. That's that's that's the that's what he's saying. That's what he's saying.
Simon Pinchbeck:So yeah, drop the world. Drop the world. conformed. Don't conform to the world. Put your trust in me. And I'll see where I'll take you. You know, one. The book that we don't like to read in the Bible is the book of Job and
Reverend Ben Cooper:no, I don't there's mine actually. Okay.
Simon Pinchbeck:But there is a fellow in in the face of a real austerity. Everything was taken away from him
Reverend Ben Cooper:because what you don't want is God to go to the devil. You can take everything that that is quite a frightening Heron word. I'll tell you what you can if you're going to you can take her out he's going to lose everything. But you can't take him yourself out you can't care for in it because that this is an interesting book and the book of Job who stripped him back of everything who allowed him to be stripped back? Who was it? Who gave the order?
Simon Pinchbeck:Every time he kept on praising the Lord didn't he do
Reverend Ben Cooper:that he slay me you know what I say that if everything's gone oh that he slay me I will still praise him I will still praise him in oh that he structured that oh that he took my business and my family are gone. My health is suffering. Oh that he's that word slay there is a man that had it and lost it but he is a quiet in the moment and it's such a What can you say? What What can you say you've got Solomon we've all that. Then you've got job we've all that. But then the devil is given authority to strip back do everything but the devil was only able to do what he done because of God's said have you looked at my servant? And goodness that's why
Simon Pinchbeck:we pray for protection every day and it been the case you imagine what what state we'd be in if we hadn't been for not protect to follow, we don't put our trust in Lovina and put Him first we're in trouble if
Reverend Ben Cooper:this is scary, and it should be scary, because the Bible says work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
Simon Pinchbeck:fear and trembling. Yeah, don't take it for two types of fear. Don't take it for granted
Reverend Ben Cooper:is the two types of fear that are labeled with the same label on the can. It's fear in the can. It smells, but am I fearing God? Or my fear in the world?
Simon Pinchbeck:Yeah. So yeah, we the, the fear of God is better to fear God is the beginning of what is the
Reverend Ben Cooper:Oh, sorry. Yeah, no,
Simon Pinchbeck:that's an interesting point. Because we've spoke on that before. And the new book coming out is on fear on fear. And one of the chapters in on the fear of God, and I think the fear of God is gone from, you don't get punched anymore. But now,
Reverend Ben Cooper:there's no fear of God because it's because what it's been switched to, is God loves everybody. So in that preaching of God loves everybody, it's all light and fluffy, and pink and beautiful and wonderful. And Rainbow, rainbows and dancing and shouting, you know, I mean, it's all it's all love and fluffy, when actually the wrath of God, the anger of God, the stripping back of God, the job experience of God the devil couldn't do anything until God said now,
Simon Pinchbeck:we can't keep testing God and he won't wink at sin and and and that's my personally my biggest fear is that is the separation from from the fire but that's you know that prayer you know, you will never leave your for St. John just say Firebird never leave me or forsake me.
Reverend Ben Cooper:You promised with me. You know, I promise you never
Simon Pinchbeck:keep praying. It's a daily thing. But we, we can't take things for granted. We are every day is new. His blessings are new every day. The Bible says his mercy is new. Every day's grace is new every day. It's a daily thing. It's a daily thing. We have to walk with it. We have to walk with Jesus. Yeah. Every single day, we have to make sure Jesus is in front of us. And oh, God, you know, the Jesus said in Matthew 633, Seek first the kingdom of God, and everything else will fall into place.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's Father, Son, Holy Spirit, it's the cross, it's a cross, it's the cross, it's the cross, it's the cross because everything is at the cross, you know, not that we are lifting up the material of the cross and what it what it symbolizes, what it what it makes me think of, we're not lifting it up like other religions that that look at the cross. And it's not the fact that we are worshipping the cross as it's the physical being the cross, but what the Cross does it the cross takes me to Jesus, then Jesus takes me to the Father. So that is the cross. And Christ went to the cross, John 316. Because the father is at the cross, the Holy Spirit is a cross cross at the cross. Everything is at the cross, everything everything is at the cross.
Simon Pinchbeck:might, you know, Jesus hope is a cross in the Gospels. You know, I would just implore people listening this to get into the Gospels get into the Word listens, because it was what Jesus is saying. Like he says, In Mark 836, what will it profit a man if he gains a whole world but loses his soul? Yes, nothing. So this word, this world, the Bible tells us this like a fleetly it's like a vapor is gone, but you we have everlasting life. We believe in Jesus, and that life everlasting, is just gonna be amazing. But so just heed what Jesus says. Just listen to what he says.
Reverend Ben Cooper:What about proverbs then love and verse for riches do not profit in a day of rough. All. snus delivers me from death? Goodness,
Simon Pinchbeck:no, you know, who's one of the wealthiest man in the world? You know, whoever it is, you know, you imagine it dying and going up and Lord says, and yeah. And what did you do? Wow, got a billion pounds.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I'm absolutely the richest person on the planet. You're the governor
Simon Pinchbeck:of the Bank of England, whatever. We've never had one. We've never had a billionaire in here before. I've all you know. It means nothing
Reverend Ben Cooper:does it? Money is nothing. Money is nothing. It's just a way of trading. But what is the attraction the attraction of it is is what it opens up. Because the value of the money is just pipe when you think about it has no value to that degree does it it's just what the world puts the stamp on the value of it, but really, it's empty, but what it does, it takes you to a very dangerous place. If you're not careful if you're not careful. flike you come back to the cross, the cross was where it finished, but where it started. So we need cross experiences where we go to the cross, Christ went to the cross. He said, It is finished, it finished at the cross, but then the New Covenant started at the cross. So the cross is the start point and the finish point. It's the continuum of our faith. Some we've got scripture, this habit, called we're up for 45 minutes.
Simon Pinchbeck:I was just thinking, Ben, what did he say? In? Because we come back to our old friend, Simon associate, Oh, I
Reverend Ben Cooper:love him.
Simon Pinchbeck:What did he say? What did they say? What are the disciples say? You've got to perish perish, let your money perish. Let your
Reverend Ben Cooper:money perish with you with you. But what did he want to do? He wanted to buy the gift. He wanted to buy it. The Holy Spirit wanted to buy the prayer. He wanted to buy it. He wanted to buy it all. Interest, isn't it? Because at the beginning of that text, everyone looked at Simon and 40s a godly man something. But then we find out later that he is but he's not. No, he's still he's still. He's still that he's a man of magic.
Simon Pinchbeck:So that someone who's hot wasn't for Jesus was it his heart was no, but he
Reverend Ben Cooper:was baptized. And he believed that so that's, that can be quite a confusing area in it. Because when we have time
Simon Pinchbeck:we unbelief. We have many people in our in who would profess to be a Christian. Today you have money, but are they walking in that relationship with Jesus Christ? You have to question that, because you will look at their lives and see the fruit of their of their lives. If, if it's in wealth, if it's in position, if it's in all that stuff, then you got a question. Have you got a relationship with Jesus, because if you've got a true relationship with Jesus, there's a belief there's a trust.
Reverend Ben Cooper:At that point, in first, The just shall live by faith
Simon Pinchbeck:as putting across first, as you quite rightly said, use its golden cross on a daily basis. And what does
Reverend Ben Cooper:the cross though the cross firstly, reminds me of redemption. The cross reminds me I'm saved, the cross reminds me that eternity is ours,
Simon Pinchbeck:then you put it really well, when you say this earth suit. Is is is just nothing is meaningless, it's
Reverend Ben Cooper:empty. It's that you know, it's
Simon Pinchbeck:spirit and the soul will live on. And we have to feed that we feed it with with the Word of God, and no money, no amount of money will bring you salvation.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Now in the area that I work in time and time I have quite a lot of time recently, as well. I've been with people as they've passed, and their family members a few days later have actually said, I actually see father or mother, whoever it is, or whatever. I actually see them leave that body and I think maybe maybe you did. Maybe there was a glimmer of light, I don't know, I don't know how to present it because it's one of them conversations, you could talk through silence and all that sort of stuff. But something happens when the body breathes, it's lost that the vessel changes. So there's, there's an inner, there's an enemy that you can't get away from, and the evidence is clearly seen at the point of death. And when people say I see that person leave, maybe maybe they did, there was a glimmer of, of a moment where God allowed that person to see that, that that person, the inner, the inner is gone. Where's the inner gone, the inner is within a twinkling of an eye you'll be with me in paradise. So there is a change to the human race. When I stopped breathing, I think
Simon Pinchbeck:straight I think you're right Ben I think all these things, God allows delay he does allow you allow certain things so if for that person that is going to move that person further down a route to salvation, then the allow that
Reverend Ben Cooper:he'll allow that allow something to be seen at the point of death. So whether whether we However, we're not talking about reincarnation and transcend or meditation of out of body experience, we're not talking about that. But the Bible is very clear. Within a twinkling of an eye you will be with me I won't be with you physically but I'll be with you. Inner my soul me so there has to be a me in me. Do you know what I mean? Because he says in a twinkling of an eye you will be but the body is left behind
Simon Pinchbeck:and that spirit don't reach out for a wallet does it but it does it don't check the bank account. It don't you know, none of that.
Reverend Ben Cooper:None of that.
Simon Pinchbeck:It's all All what relief but it's all left behind. So
Reverend Ben Cooper:gone. So left to the cat home,
Simon Pinchbeck:you don't have to worry about kids anymore.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Crank, crank it up as much as you'd like. Because one day, one day,
Simon Pinchbeck:we just say, Look, come to the cross and put your trust and belief in Jesus Christ and let him sort it out for you don't put your trust in money where the Bible says quite clearly, you know where your treasure is, so is your heart, put your heart with Jesus, and everything will fall into place, Seek first the Kingdom, everything will fall into place. You know, stuff will happen like what we've seen here and this and this place stuff will happen where you'll say out of that app and that was that bill paid everything will get be sorted be got but you're trusting in the Lord. Your heart has got to be with him.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah. You know what Proverbs finish I'm gonna finish on the Scripture. Proverbs 23, verse four, and five says at the end of the text, fly like an eagle towards heaven. At the beginning that Texas has dropped wealth, drop everything, leave everything, it's meaningless. It's empty, it's gone. fly like an eagle. And waltz heaven.
Simon Pinchbeck:And the deal is when when we see you know, little children, people in other countries who actually got nothing, but they got Jesus, the love and the joy in their face. The more stuff we have, the more possessions we have money or welfare will drag us down. If we don't get the Pro is in the right order.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's the stacking, isn't it? It's the stacking, stacking. It's not how much you got, it doesn't matter how much you got or what you ain't got. It still comes down to stacking it done it. Whatever you got, it's the stack where the
Simon Pinchbeck:stack is where you put it where you leave it with.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, well, yeah. So what's at the top of the stack? Anyways, can buy a new car?
Simon Pinchbeck:What first of all, you got to give me that camera.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Okay, under the table. You know, it's been great to be able to talk openly to everybody across the world. Thank you so much for joining us today, Simon and myself. And wherever you are, it's where do I stack and how do I stack? What do I put at the top of the stack? You know, Scripture all the way through? It's the cross.
Simon Pinchbeck:It's the cross this and if you if you like what you've heard today, and if you like everything we're doing on hashtag Christian straight talk, then then I'll implore you to share it out. Speak to your friends. We have a little YouTube video where you can see us both just advertising just telling people about a 10 minute promo for this podcast, which will be out on YouTube very soon. God bless you
Reverend Ben Cooper:all Yeah, our men. I think it's important to mention some are really really quickly that if anybody needs a Bible, we'll get you a Bible.
Simon Pinchbeck:Totally Ben Yeah, we're looking at we can do that. We can do that. God got great connections with the Bible men and we've been
Reverend Ben Cooper:Jesus. Now seriously, yes. Simon's right. We can get you a Bible close.
Simon Pinchbeck:We know what to call it, Robert? Yeah,
Reverend Ben Cooper:we Yeah, we're following it. Anyway, wherever you are, God bless. Have a great day whatever your timezone is, whatever your day is when you capture this back you can find us on I Heart Radio, Amazon music, Alexa, Spotify Buzzsprout and the list is absolutely endless endless enjoy Be careful what you spend it to have a great day in Jesus name Amen.
Close:This is #Christian Straight Talk introducing Reverend Ben Cooper and Simon Pinchbeck with this weeks podcasts. Our podcasts have now been published and can be purchased in hardback or direct from Amazon. You can listen to our podcasts on multiple platforms, including Amazon, Buzzsprout and Spotify.