In a recent article in the Wesleyan Life magazine Wayne Schmidt writes, “There may be a time when you are asked to do something that violates your core convictions. You may be asked to lie in order to enhance the reputation of your company or its image. You may be expected to engage in a business activity that is unethical or illegal. In each case some aspect of self-preservation will be pitted against your desire to be obedient” to God. Ever been in that place? Ever been in a position where you have to choose between your values and the demands of power over you. The phone rings. And your boss across the room silently mouths, “tell them I’m not here.” That’s positional power. Or perhaps a friend or a spouse or a family member asks you to place your values aside in to help them out. “Just do it this once…for me.” That’s emotional power. Maybe the power asking for compromise comes from a subtler source. The tempting impulse in your own mind says, “No one will know…do it…what does it matter?” That’s spiritual power at work. Or there can be times when someone urges you to be expedient in order to get what you want. “The only way I can approve this loan for you is if you stretch the facts a little. Everyone does it.” That’s the temptation to have your own needs met at all costs. All of these situations are wrapped up in the battle between self-preservation and the desire to be obedient” to God. The price we have to pay emotionally and spiritually is just not worth getting what we think we want or need. In each of these situations we have a choice to make. It’s a choice that has real power to shape the days to come. The dilemma we need to face, in these moments, is this: “I have the power to act in this situation. It’s my choice. But how will this choice shape my character and integrity?” Three men faced a similar challenge in the book of Daniel. We read their story. Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego had choices to make. Choices that would shape their immediate and long-term future, and choices that would reveal the way they viewed power, integrity, and the faithfulness of God. As they lived out the implications of their choices they would learn much. The first lesson they had to learn is that many times in life power sometimes rests with someone other than us. And often that power is concerned with the needs of the one who holds it. In the case of King Nebuchadnezzar he was concerned about solidifying his own place in the world.
3:1 Power is often used to bring attention and recognition to the one who holds it.
Nebuchadnezzar had the power to build whatever he wanted. He could build something that would benefit his kingdom, his people. He chose to build a 90-foot statue that would be used to cement his own authourity in the land. He chose to use his power to further his own agenda.
3:2-3 Misused power is focused on communicating superiority and hierarchy.
When the statue was complete he summoned all leaders were to come. This was not an rsvp situation. Be there was the message. The message he wanted to communicate was “I am in charge and not you.” As the leaders of his kingdom stood before the image-the size of it communicated the message as they looked up at it. It was hard not to get the message when faced with the concrete example of the king’s power.
3:4-6 Controlling power will go to any lengths to secure the allegiance and submission of the people power is held over.
The people stood before the large statue. They waited to hear what their king would require of them. Then the herald (a type of PR man for the king) spoke. He followed the script given to him by the king perfectly. He was paid to say what the king wanted said. He knew who had the power over his words. The command was clear: As soon as you hear the music, immediately, you must fall down and worship. Strong words: “As Soon.” You Must”. This was not optional. They were commanded to worship, but that was a contradiction of terms-worship is something that is chosen and given freely from the heart. Power can force people to get down on their knees (to assume a posture of worship) but can’t force them to worship from the heart. To help the potential worshippers make up their minds the herald told his listeners that the king had arranged a little something to motivate his people to worship. Any managers out there? Take note of how not to motivate your employees. The king did not have bonuses, stock options, or other ways to motivate He had a burning, fiery furnace available for dissenters. The king was taking no chances. Only someone foolish would refuse to worship the statue.
3:7 Bowing to the demands of the powerful to hold onto security is a tempting response.
When faced with a choice most of the people did not take long to choose. We read “as soon as they heard the sound” they fell down. They did not form a committee to study the question. Instant and unthinking compliance on the part of most of the leaders was the response. Can you blame them? To paraphrase Shakespeare, “To bow or to barbeque that is the question!” And the response was clear to most people. “I am going to eat dust.”
3:8-12 It is hard not to cooperate with those in power out of a sense of self preservation.
I don’t blame the people for their response. It is understandable. But it not the only option as we will soon be reminded. It is not easy to be a nonconformist in a time of potential harm. Conformity is a common response in life and this is not even in a situation of desperate danger. But not everyone was able to bow to the Kings wishes: Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego stood when everyone else bowed down. If this were moment were portrayed in a movie the camera would move from a focus on the statue and the smiling king. It would pan over the crowd of worshippers. The music would be blaring, and then the camera would stop. It would zoom in on the men who were standing. One by one the musicians would stop playing…in disbelief. In this moment of stunned silence some leaders in the crowd came forward. They saw their opportunity to gain influence and power with the king. They denounced the men who did not bow. They were literally willing to see them consumed by the king’s fury in the pursuit of solidifying their own position. These leaders appealed to the king’s vanity, his desire for recognition-“O king, live forever” and recounted what the king had ordered. Gaining power was on their minds just as much as it was on the kings. They pointed out to the king that some of the men “he appointed” were not towing the party line. The implied question was “are you going to let them get away with this? You appointed them.” The king’s attention became focused on these three men. His smile faded. Anger took over. The three were loyal subjects of the king who carried out their responsibilities in a way led to their promotion and recognition. But the limit of their otherwise legitimate loyalty came when their employer called them to violate their conscience. And the king had noticed. They were literally taking a stand.
3:13-15 It is difficult for some in a position of absolute power to imagine a God that can act.
The king responded to the men’s defiance with rage and anger. He could not imagine a world in which anyone would defy him. It was a form of madness. Self importance and ego were his God. That someone would oppose him was inconceivable to him. “Is it true?” Amazement and disbelief coloured his words. He called the men to stand before him and restated the situation-the attitude was “maybe you do not understand what is at stake here.” The king laid out all that they needed to do to avoid the punishment he had in mind for dissenters. Fall down and worship or into the furnace you go. What the king said next was significant. With his words “what God will be able to rescue you” the king moved the battle to a different level than between himself and some incompliant employees. He put himself in direct opposition to God. He taunted God and dared him to act but could not believe that he would.
3:16-18 Power is defined not by those who wield it on earth but by those who submit to God
In the next few verses we hear what is motivating these men who stood when everyone else fell to the ground. And in doing so we see power redefined.
3:19-23 To defy one who ruthlessly holds onto power is to risk experiencing his or her rage anger.
3:24-25 The power of God amazes those who finally realize that not everything is within their control.
3: 26 The Discovery that God is the only one with true power in our world requires an attitude adjustment.
3:27 The evidence of God’s power at work defies conventional wisdom.
3: 28-30 What is our response to be when confronted with the reality of God’s power?
Application:
Most of us do not face the risk of being thrown into a fiery furnace when we stand for our convictions, but we may pay a price:
When we are faced with ethical dilemmas:
In the end those who have a true sense of where power lies and act out of that knowledge can be people of integrity. Our choices can flow out of confidence and trust. That is true power and has a lasting impact in our lives and in the lives of those around us.