One of the joys of doing these columns has been meeting some remarkable people who have decided to share their faith in some form of ministry. Steve Marr is one of those people we became friends with recently.

Steve is a former CEO of the fourth largest import-export firm facilitating international trade for many of the largest companies in the United States. Steve said he has learned from 36 years of experience that God’s way works! He has published more than 250 magazine articles and hosted a radio feature, Business Proverbs, heard on over 1,400 radio stations internationally. Steve has been a featured speaker at the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism, a guest on The 700 Club and a frequent business contributor to many radio programs. Steve has authored four excellent books on business success using biblical principles.

We were eager to sit down with Steve and find out more about his advice to individuals and business owners. Here is a part of our conversation:

Steve, you were involved in business and have ended up in North Idaho. Tell us about your journey.

At retirement, my wife, Mary, and I moved to Arizona for health reasons where I continued to consult with businesses and ministries. For a short time, I filled in as interim COO for Family Life Radio to assist with significant transition issues. A few years ago, we made the move to the Coeur d’Alene area and love it. We are also happy to live near our son and family there.

Your book, “Proverbs for Business,” is an excellent book with 260 devotionals for any business leader. Although some are from Proverbs, you search the entire Bible for wisdom. Many might not think to turn to the Bible for business wisdom. What are the insights you have learned?

Scripture reminds us what Paul wrote: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16). What has amazed me is how many scriptures relate to business, not just ethically but for effective execution, sales and staff management.

I read your book “Roadmap to Success” with advice about starting a business. It’s one of the best books I have read on this subject. There is so much practical advice along with biblical principles. It should be a mandatory text for business owners. How did this book come about?

My motivation came from working with business owners who came to me six to 18 months after starting an operation because they were in a mess, at times being forced into bankruptcy. I could see that either they never should have opened a business, or they should have followed a different pathway so that success would have been more likely.

Schools don’t teach entrepreneurship; instead, you learn lessons in the life of hard knocks. I wrote the book to reduce these struggles by using God’s Word. Also, when consulting with new leaders of business startups, I ask the client to read the book before our first meeting. This saves my time and my client’s money.

You also wrote “Integrity in the Workplace.” This might be your most important book. A democracy and free market depends on the integrity of the citizenry, and you cover so many important areas. You share about treating your customers right to judging employees fairly. Give us more insight about why this is so important.

So often today people take commitments lightly. We all fall short at times, but when we do, we need to stop, confess and make things right. David wrote a reminder that speaks to me: “Who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind?” (Psalm 15:4, NIV). Without integrity, our entire political and economic system will collapse. We all have experienced difficulties with business practices. While some businesses cut corners, short-change customers and fail to deliver as promised, you don’t have to be that person. In today’s business environment, if you do what you say you’ll do as scheduled, at the price you agreed; you will be successful.

Leaving your career as an author, you also have a fascinating hobby of numismatics — coin collecting — which has included a collection of coins from the biblical period. Can you give a brief overview of your interest and collection?

Coinage from the first century provides tangible historical evidence and insight into the time Christ walked the earth. For example, a coin minted in 5-6 A.D. depicts what we believe to be the star of Bethlehem. It provides evidence of the star’s existence before the Lord’s earthly ministry so that detractors can’t simply say the coin was minted to suit the Gospels. We can also hold in our hand a widow’s mite and see an insignificant coin with an eternal impact as we connect it to the story about a woman’s small offering and big heart. We look at a shekel that would’ve been used in the temple offering and remember how it came out of a fish’s mouth to pay the temple tax for the Lord and Peter. We also remember it was tragically used as the blood money paid for the Lord’s betrayal.

We are blessed to have you available and gain the wisdom from your experience. I hope that people will take advantage of your books. Your willingness to be a witness for Christ and His influence in all areas of life is also a blessing. If people want to purchase your books or contact you, how do they do that?

My books are available at Sower Christian Books in Coeur d’Alene. For more information they can also go to my website: www.businessproverbs.org

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Bob Shillingstad is a regular contributor to The Press. Email: [email protected]