While this site is focused on business ownership, our lesson today from Daniel 3.1-30 is really about those who work for difficult bosses. Let’s start by reading the Scripture:

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. ² He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. ³ So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. ⁴ Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: ⁵ As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. ⁶ Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” ⁷ Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. ⁸ At this time some astrologers ^z came forward and denounced the Jews. ⁹ They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! ¹⁰ Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, ¹¹ and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. ¹² But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.” ¹³ Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, ¹⁴ and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? ¹⁵ Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” ¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual ²⁰ and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. ²¹ So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. ²² The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, ²³ and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. ²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” ²⁵ He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” ²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, ²⁷ and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. ²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” ³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon^[1]

King Nebuchadnezzar must have been a difficult guy to work for. In the first year of his reign, he besieges and plunders Jerusalem. In his second year, he has a vivid dream which he cannot understand, so he tests his magicians and wise men by telling them to not only interpret his dream, but tell him what the dream was. Now, in chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar builds a statue of considerable size. Archer says that “the golden image undoubtedly reflected the symbolism of the dream-image in which the head of gold represented Babylonia.” ^[2] Walton suggests the purpose of the statue was erected to commemorate Nebuchadnezzar, a practice common in Assyria at that time. Essentially, offerings were made to the statue but were also an indirect way to give honor and loyalty to the king. “This would make sense here in light of the suggestion in the dream of Daniel 2 that the Babylonian kingdom would have a limited time of rule.” ^[3] Nebuchadnezzar is trying to shore up his political base. But Nebuchadnezzar takes it further and demands that the image of gold be worshipped (vs 5). Death by fire awaits those who do not obey.

Three of Daniel’s friends – whom he had promoted to be administrators over provinces in Babylon did not obey this command. And those in the orbit of Nebuchadnezzar told him about it. They are described as neither worshipping the king’s gods or the image of gold the king set up.

Nebuchadnezzar is furious and gives them a second chance to worship the image. The men refuse and “firmly bound” (vs 23) are thrown into the fire. To his amazement and those around him, he sees four men walking around in the fire and the fourth was “like a son of the gods”. (vs 25). Most scholars take this as a reference to Christ.

The men emerge from the fire unharmed. And Nebuchadnezzar admits that “no other god can save in this way” (vs 29).

So, what are the management lessons we can learn from this story?

Know what is non-negotiable for you

When the king gave Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego the opportunity to avoid death by worshipping the golden image, they refused because they would not worship any other god other than God Himself. In business, there will be times when (essentially) you’ll be asked to worship a god other than God Himself. You boss may demand that you have excessive loyalty to him or her. You may be asked to put your employer first in all areas of your life. You may be told that your loyalty is required or you will be fired.

If or when this happens, you need to have already decided your allegiances. These three men made this plain and apparent right off the bat when they refused the king’s food in chapter 1. They had resolved to not defile themselves. Their resolution was firmly tested here in chapter 3. The time to make non-negotiable decisions about your allegiance to God is now, not when the test of persecution comes. What is non-negotiable for you?  What are you willing to lose your job over?  What will you die for? These are the questions you and I need to answer now, before the persecution comes.

Your Non-Negotiables will be Challenged by Your Boss’s Power and Control Tactics

Power and control are high values for Nebuchadnezzar. This is illustrated by incorporating Jerusalem into his kingdom, demanding his magicians and counselors tell him his dream, not just the interpretation of it and now demanding people worship the image he made as a test of loyalty to him and his gods.

Bosses who pivot on power and control are just plain difficult people with whom to work. The way to manage yourself in this – if you choose to stay – is to be direct and non-negotiable when needed. Then let the chips fall where they may.

When these people are disobeyed or confronted, they become furious. Just like Nebuchadnezzar, who became so furious that he demanded the fire be made seven times hotter and sacrificed his best warriors to get the men who threw our three friends into the fire. These people use anger as a method of controlling others. Reacting in anger to their anger is not the way to respond. Proverbs 15.1 says that a soft answer turns away wrath. As Christ followers, we need to have gentleness and wisdom on our lips, understanding that man’s anger does not produce the righteous life which God desires (James 2.19).

You Must Be Willing to Lose it All in Order to Remain Faithful to Christ

There is no other way. You may be threatened with termination of your employment. So be it. You must obey God first because His laws are higher than our laws or any directive your boss might give you. Now, be sure to serve your boss well. Be ten times better (Daniel 1.20) than your peers in the quality of your work product. But also resolve to never defile yourself by disobeying God.

Trust in God’s sovereignty is more important than pleasing your boss. Holding all that you have – including your job – with an open hand is equally important. Place your trust in God for your future – even when your future is full of threats from your difficult boss about losing your job or making sure you never find work in your industry again. God is able to make all things work together for your good (Romans 8.28).

Bill English, Publisher
Bible and Business

^[1] NIV Daniel 3:1–30

^[2] Archer, G. L., Jr. (1986). Daniel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 50). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

^[3] Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Walton, J. H. (2000). The IVP Bible background commentary: Old Testament (electronic ed., Da 3:1). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.