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Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

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(running time 2 minutes 11 seconds)

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Have you ever thought about your skills in business as a gift from God?  Not everyone has the ability and daringness to take on the task of starting a business.  Even fewer trust in God to lead them through the ups and downs of business.

Here in chapter 4, we see Peter talking about how Christians live differently than the rest of the world.  Then, he shifts to talk about how Christ is coming back and the end of times is near.

He tells us to be “alert and of sober mind that [we] may pray.”  I want us to look at verse 7 for a moment.  The Amplified version reads this way, “be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer –that means staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.”

I love to look at verses in different versions of the Bible.  It gives us clarity about how God talks through different people saying the same thing, but in a different ways.  We all can learn from other people if we take time to listen.

We each have personalities, attitudes and life situations.  God wants to use those things to glorify Him.  When we keep our minds focused on serving Him, we will see our lives lining up and pointing towards Him in all we do.

Peter shifts again to talk about love and how we should treat one another.  He says to ‘love deeply’ and “offer hospitality without grumbling.”  He is encouraging the church to care for one another so deeply, that no one would dare think about leaving the bond they have developed with other Christians.

Now, we hit our key verse.  Peter tells us that we should use whatever gifts we have to serve God.  He tells us that we are stewards of “God’s grace in its various forms.”

Yes, you are a steward of God’s grace.  You have been given the awesome opportunity to become a business owner.  God has gifted you and made your personality in such a way that you can lead others and make a difference in the world.

Businesses may be created to make money, but that only happens when you help other people.  God has placed business owners like you and me on this earth to carry out His mission in this world.  Take your responsibility as a business owner seriously.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

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