Home Bible Study: Compromise

Compromise is defined as an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.

Compromise occurs when two people or groups disagree and both give up something important so they can reconcile and come together.

At various points in our lives, we will have to compromise with someone else. No one gets their way all the time. Therefore, compromise is an important part of building friendships and developing long lasting relationships.

However, the exception to the rule concerns compromising with God. He knows everything and sees everything. Therefore, when our desires conflict with His word, compromise is not an option.

The enemy’s main goal is destroy our relationship with the Lord. He accomplishes this one compromise at a time.

In our relationships with others, compromise is important.

In our relationship with God, compromise can have life-altering consequences.

To see this truth, we will look at the story of the fiery furnace in the book of Daniel.

When is compromise good?

Why is it foolish to compromise with God?

Opportunity to Compromise

The book of Daniel tells the story of Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. As teenagers, they were removed from their homeland and forced to go to a foreign land and serve a foreign king.

In the king’s arrogance, he wanted all of the people to worship him. He issued a law requiring everyone to worship him.

Daniel 3:5 NKJV

5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in a difficult situation. They understood God does not allow His people to worship anyone else than Him.

They had to choose, who would they worship. Satan laid a trap for the, trying to get them to compromise. On the surface, bowing before the golden statue was not that big of a deal.

Some might have thought, I will bow, but I will not worship, I will just go through the routine to spare my life. If they take this opportunity to compromise, the enemy would have the opportunity to shift their focus away from God.

How does Satan try and get Christians to compromise today?

Though we do not have golden idols in our lives, what types of idols can people make that distract them from God?

Consequences to Compromise

Daniel 3:10–13 NKJV

10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.

When the time was right, all of the people stood in front of the golden statue. The music started and everyone bowed down before the statue, except for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

The king’s leaders brought the three friends before the king. The consequences to refusing to bow was the fiery furnace. They knew what would happen if they refused to bow, yet they would not compromise.

When they came to the king, he gave them a second chance. He gave them a chance, bow before my statue or I will heat the fire seven times hotter and throw you in there.

Try and put yourself in their shoes and think, how do you think Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego felt?

Why was it a problem to bow before the statue?

Commitment over Compromise

Daniel 3:16–18 NKJV

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were respectful to the king, but they stayed committed to God. They knew the consequences, but disappointing God was not worth it to them.

They refused to bow before the golden image because they trusted God to deliver them from the fiery furnace. However, even if God did not save them, they could not bring themselves to disobey God.

In anger, the king had the fire heated seven times hotter. They tied up the three men’s hands and feet together and took them to the furnace. The guards opened the doors and the fire was so hot the flames killed the guards as they through the men into the flames.

With the heat from the fire, the should have died instantly. But a miracle took place. God protected them because they refused to disobey Him.

Daniel 3:24–25 NKJV

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

The king noticed something strange, they threw in three men, but he saw four men. He recognized Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but who was the fourth man? The king said He looked like the Son of God.

Bible scholars believe the Fourth Man was Jesus. Long before He was born in a manger, He came to earth for a short time to help protect those who refused to compromise.

What would have happened if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had compromised?

How does Jesus help us when we are tempted to compromise?

Challenge

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego left the fiery furnace, they did not smell like smoke and their clothes were not burned. The king was so impressed he announced that no one could say anything bad about God.

Daniel 3:30 NKJV

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

Then the king promoted them, giving them better jobs, more power, and increased finances. All because they refused to compromise.

Satan sets similar traps for us today. Though none of us have faced a fiery furnace, we have faced opportunities to compromise. However, if we will stay faithful to God, He will protect and provide for us.

Whether it is at school, on the job, or with family, we can always choose to compromise. But if we will stay committed, God will always be there to guide us.

He wants us to choose commitment over compromise every time.

What was your favorite part of the story of the fiery furnace?

How has God helped you with compromise in the past?

What decisions can we make to avoid compromise?

Challenge

As a family pray God will help you to stay committed.

Repent of times you have compromised in your walk with Him.

Ask God for help to hear His voice when Satan tempts you to compromise.