Ethics & Competence – There is nothing new under the sun.

Stan Lewis
When I was a child, I loved to play the game follow the leader. My friends and I would go over, around, under and sometimes through things and places we had no business being at or in. As children, each of us has been guilty of not applying common sense and basic wisdom. As we grow to adult hood, most of us put aside most of our childish ways. As we gain experience in life and make positive decisions based those experiences, we gain in wisdom and the ability to better utilize our common sense on a daily basis. And with wisdom, it is easier to both see the need for and apply ethics/morals in all aspects on one’s life. We thus become more effective leaders. If a person chooses to make negative decisions, despite life experiences, they do not gain in wisdom. They ignore that “small” voice inside themselves – called common sense. They reason away the necessity for ethics/morals to be involved in all aspects of leader’s life.
To a certain point, we play follow the leader in the business world. Most of us have a boss or manager, whom we “follow”. We follow them by doing what they require of us on a daily basis based on laws, company policy, and/or managerial directives. There is nothing wrong with this. Whenever we work, we should work as if we are working for the Lord. However, sometimes the leader wants to take us over, around, under and sometimes through things and places we have no business being at or in. When the leader is not playing by the rules, we need to step out of the game.
It is not easy to step out of the game. People may put you down, take negative actions against you, or even try to remove you from employment. These are some harsh and very real consequences for standing up for making good decisions and exercising sound ethics. For example, take Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who found themselves in an adult version of follow the leader. Their leader, King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold. This King demanded that each of his subjects would bow down to this image at the appointed time. The King further added that anyone failing to bow down to this image at the appointed time would be put to death. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego stepped out of the game and refused to bow down. Each of these young men where brought before the King and given another chance to “follow the leader,” but each refused. You see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego followed the commandments of God and would neither worship nor bow to a false image. Each one listened to that small voice inside of them and would not reason away their ethics to play follow the leader. As a result, they faced some harsh consequences – death. Let us see what the King had to say – (Dan 3:16-18 asv) “Now if ye … fall down and worship the image which I have made, “well”: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter. If it be “so”, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Each of these young men where committed. They where not sure if God would deliver them or not, but they where not willing to compromise their values. They where willing to give their lives to do what’s right and it paid off
Most of you know this story of how God saved these young men from the fiery furnace and the King was amazed (Dan 3:27 asv ) “…that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed.” The King experienced these three walking – breathing examples of Godly leaders making good decisions based upon their experiences with God law. As a result of such experience, these young men gained in wisdom.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego overcame the harsh consequences, by God’s grace. These young men knew and acted on their moral beliefs and played by the rules of common sense ethics. They benefited by becoming important men of structure in the king’s court. The King learned from their example. Nebuchadnezzar learned to play by the rules. So when you find yourself playing follow the leader, remember – play by the rules.