As written and presented by Mary Whelchel

PROGRAM D-6059

Have you ever had a manager who seemed to be testing you, seeing just how far he or she could go before you break, or perhaps making things tougher for you because you took a Christian stance at work? Well, I want to encourage you to read Daniel 3 again, because that's what happened to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

King Nebuchadnezzar was Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's boss, did you realize that? They were government employees, having been thoroughly trained for their jobs for three years and hand picked by the king for special service. They were recognized to be men of great integrity and wisdom, and their performance was excellent.

But they were not willing to abandon their commitment to their God, the true God, and their refusal to worship the king's golden image got them into some serious trouble with their boss.

Jesus said to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's. These three men knew that truth. They gave their employer everything they could and should-hard work, excellent performance, obedience in all areas except where that obedience would cause them to disobey God. There they stood their ground, willing to pay the price if necessary.

These men are good role models for us in the business world. It is not uncommon to be faced with a situation where we must refuse to do something that would compromise our commitment to Christ. Are we willing to take those tough stands, even if it means suffering unfavorable consequences? Or do we fold under the pressure?

Note what the king says after God has delivered these employees from the burning furnace. 'They trusted in God 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.' He fully recognized the courage of their position and he obviously admired them. But he didn't say that to them before throwing them in the furnace did he?

We need to remember when we're in the midst of this kind of situation that people are watching us to see how we perform. They are testing us to see if we really are committed to God when things get hot. They are often on a search for the truth about God, and they may even put us through some furnaces to see if it's real. Don't blow those opportunities. Pray much and ask God to bring you through as gold, so that he will be praised and others will know he is the true God.

In Mary’s book "Looking with Forever Eyes" she shows readers how to view their circumstances from God’s perspective. Call the ministry at 1-800-292-1218 or go online to www.christianworkingwoman.org to order.

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