Faithfulness and Integrity: Lessons from Daniel's Life

Daniel was able to trust in the sovereignty of his God. A second principle that helped Daniel to remain faithful was that he had a conviction to do what is right. Look in verse number eight. It says, but Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not do what he was told to do. He would not do what he was told to do. He would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore, he requested the prince of eunuchs that he might not defile himself. [00:49:25] (28 seconds)


The Babylonians would not have prepared kosher food for the Jewish captives. They were trying to take away the Jewish customs and convert them, to Babylonians. Also, it's quite likely that this meat and this wine would have first been offered to idols and that eating of it would have been an act of worship for the Babylonians, that they were worshiping this false God. It was an act of worship to the deity to whom it was offered. Therefore, Daniel and the others said, we can't eat this meat. [00:50:03] (33 seconds)


It's a decision that he made. And we have to understand that we are not going to do what is right by accident. we're not gonna just simply come across doing what is right. It's a decision that we have to make. Every day, for every circumstance in life, we have to make a decision. I am going to do what is right. I'm gonna do what my God has called me to do. Even if I don't like it, even if I don't understand it, even if it could cost me my life, even if it can cost me my job, I am gonna do what is right. [00:51:59] (35 seconds)


Your heart wants to do what makes you happy, what pleases you. It doesn't want to do what God wants us to do. We have to lead our hearts. We have to study what the word of God says and we have to make decisions according to what his word says, no matter what our heart wants to do. We have to make firm decisions, purpose not to do what is wrong, to defile ourself. We have to, like Daniel, have a conviction to do what is right, no matter the cost. [00:52:34] (31 seconds)


A third principle that helped Daniel was that he was polite to other people. Look at verse number eight again, the latter part. It says, and he requested, therefore he requested of the prince of eunuchs that he might not defile himself. It doesn't say that he demanded, but he respected the authority of the prince of eunuchs. Of those that were over him. You know, there's never a reason to be rude or arrogant. [00:53:15] (28 seconds)


Being rude always escalates a situation instead of solving it, instead of helping it. It tells us in Proverbs chapter 15, verse one, a soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. When we're demanding or hostile, we cause more problems than we solve. But Pastor Chris, you just don't know what they did or you don't know how they treated me. They deserved the way that I spoke to them. Can I tell you, I would assume whatever situation you're going through was not worse than Daniel's. [00:53:45] (37 seconds)


The government leaders that we have were ordained by God. We might not understand why God has done all he's done, but we must trust God and we must do our part and submit to the authorities that he placed in our lives. Obviously, that submission has a line. With the word of God, if someone asks us to do something that is an obvious contradiction to the Bible, to the word of God, then we must obey God rather than man. But as Daniel did, we must be polite and show respect toward other people. Daniel didn't demand. He requested. [00:58:59] (37 seconds)


Daniel didn't try to cover up the reason for his request. He didn't say, you know, I really just don't like this food or this food. bothers my stomach, and it keeps making me sick, and I just, I can't eat this. He told the prince of the eunuchs that eating this food would violate his conscience as it would cause him to disobey what God has said. It would have been easy for Daniel to lie in this situation as to why he couldn't eat this food, but Daniel simply told the truth. [00:59:58] (31 seconds)


But Daniel told the truth instead of trying to come up with a more convincing reason as to why he should eat the meat. You know, that's an important principle for us to remember. We must always tell the truth. Tell the truth. Even if a lie sounds better, even if a lie is less confrontational, even if you think lying will keep you out of trouble, it is always better to tell the truth. But Pastor Chris, what if telling the lie gets me in trouble with my parents? Tell the truth. [01:00:21] (33 seconds)


We must be willing to speak the truth, no matter the consequences that may come. God gave Daniel favor and that God allowed him to be able to meet this. He told the guy, they said, ah, we don't know about this. If you look sickly because you don't eat the king's meat and we bring you before the king and you look like you're malnourished. It could cost us our lives, but God gave them favor. And they said, all right, all right, all right. We'll try it for three days. [01:02:09] (32 seconds)


Daniel was confident that God, God's way was the right way. And he was willing to put his faith to the test. He was willing to prove the superiority of God's way. And so he asked the prince to give him and his three friends just water and vegetables for the next three days. The prince of the eunuchs didn't think there was any way that Daniel would end off in a better situation with this ludicrous diet. But Daniel was willing to step out in faith and put his God to the test, put the ways of God to the test. [01:03:31] (33 seconds)