“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God” (Dan. 6:3-5).
The greatness of faithfulness is seen in the difficult times of life. Daniel had shown himself faithful through the Babylonian times and would be no different under the Medes and Persians. His fellow leaders became envious and sought to find anything that they could use to attack him. Consider three lessons from the faithfulness of Daniel.
1. Proven. Genuine faith shines when it is tested. Daniel’s adversaries examined his record in the kingdom and found it filled with integrity. Such is true of a righteous life. Jesus said, “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:21). Before this challenge, Daniel had approached the prince of the eunuchs in charge of the Babylonian king’s provisions and asked to be tested (cf. Dan. 1:12). The world is always going to try to find ways to test. The devil makes it his job to seek to thwart every righteous quality of God’s people. He attacked Job (cf. Job 1:9). He used his wiles with Jesus (cf. Matthew 4:1-11). Faithfulness is not afraid to be scrutinized. It stands confident.
2. Practical. Faithfulness has a practical value, not just to the person who has it, but also to those who are affected by it. Darius was blessed to have such a person as Daniel in his kingdom. Paul stated of Timothy and his family, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Tim. 1:5). Paul told the Philippians concerning Timothy, “For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state” (Phil. 2:20). Daniel’s faithfulness in serving the Lord easily carried over to his serving in the kingdoms of men. All who connect with faithful people find life much more pleasant.
3. Powerful. The ultimate reward of faithfulness is God’s blessing. Some seek to please men only to find out later in the day of judgment that life should have been lived to please God. The power of Daniel’s faithfulness was magnified in the den of lions. The Lord was magnified in the eyes of Darius through Daniel’s faith in God and in God’s faithfulness to his own. It is likely that Daniel is referenced in Hebrews chapter 11 among the faithful of the ages, where it is stated, “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions” (Heb. 11:33). When one stands with God, there is no power on earth to defeat. Paul wrote, “What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). The book of Revelation has as one of its major points that those who overcome shall receive abundantly more than anything this life offers. John wrote, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). Paul knew about the crown of righteousness (cf. 2 Tim. 4:7-8). Faithfulness is a powerful attribute of the converted.
Jimmy Clark