Old Testament Characters (Part 1)
Dare To Be A Daniel:  How To Enjoy Success Without Compromise

The Bible is filled with accounts of many godly men and women who are
worthy of our emulation. One such person is Daniel, a man who obtained
preeminence and power in his lifetime:

He started out preeminent among the children of Israel
Daniel 1:3-6: "Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court
officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and
the nobility-- {4} young men without any physical defect, handsome,
showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to
understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach
them the language and literature of the Babylonians. {5} The king
assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They
were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the
king's service. {6} Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael and Azariah."

He gained preeminence among the wise of men of Babylon
Daniel 1:17-20: "To these four young men God gave knowledge and
understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could
understand visions and dreams of all kinds. {18} At the end of the time
set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to
Nebuchadnezzar. {19} The king talked with them, and he found none equal
to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's
service. {20} In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the
king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the
magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom."

He was given power over all of Babylon
Daniel 2:48-49: "Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and
lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of
Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. {49} Moreover, at
Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself
remained at the royal court."

Daniel 5:29: "Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was clothed in purple,
a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third
highest ruler in the kingdom."

He received similar power over the Medo-Persian empire
Daniel 6:1-3: "It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule
throughout the kingdom, {2} with three administrators over them, one of
whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the
king might not suffer loss. {3} Now Daniel so distinguished himself among
the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the
king planned to set him over the whole kingdom."

Daniel 6:28: "So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the
reign of Cyrus the Persian."

How was Daniel able to reach these positions of power and influence
without compromising his position as a godly man? A close look at the
book of Daniel reveals his secret, and shows how we too can be successful
without selling our souls

First, we notice that even as a young teen-ager.
DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PURPOSE:
Daniel 1:8: "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal
food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to
defile himself this way."

A young boy in a strange land, Daniel was immediately faced with a
challenge to violate God's law by eating the king's food. Despite his
youth and the obvious pressures to conform, Daniel "purposed in his
heart" to uphold the law of God, no matter the cost.

Because of his willingness to put God first, God granted Daniel favor in
the sight of others Daniel 1:9: "Now God had caused the official to show
favor and sympathy to Daniel,"

How God did this is not explained, but it also happened in the case of
Joseph
Genesis 39:1-4: "Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an
Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard,
bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. {2} The LORD was
with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian
master. {3} When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the
LORD gave him success in everything he did, {4} Joseph found favor in his
eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his
household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned."

By putting God first, God blessed Joseph in such a way that favorably
impressed others.

EVERY CHILD OF GOD NEEDS TO BE A PERSON OF PURPOSE...
No one respects a "wishy-washy" person, someone with no direction in
their lives. Whereas a strong sense of purpose often breeds respect and
admiration in others.

What should be the "purpose" of the Christian?
Jesus makes it clear in Matt. 6:33: to seek the will of God and fulfill
it in our lives, no matter the circumstances. As Jesus promised, this
will guarantee God's favor toward us and in turn likely gain us favor in
the eyes of those around us.

Will you "dare to be a Daniel" and be a person with a purpose like he
had? No matter how young one may be, it is never too early to "seek
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness"!

DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PRINCIPLE: HE REFUSED TO COMPROMISE
HIS CONVICTIONS...
As a young man, by refusing to eat the king's meat or drink his wine
(1:8). As an old man, by refusing the gifts of Belshazzar

Daniel 5:13-17: "So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king
said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king
brought from Judah? {14} I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in
you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. {15}
The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing
and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. {16} Now I have
heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult
problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you
will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck,
and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom." {17} Then
Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give
your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for
the king and tell him what it means."

Under the threat of persecution, by refusing to obey the decree of Darius
Daniel 6:10: "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published,
he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward
Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving
thanks to his God, just as he had done before."

PEOPLE ADMIRE PERSONS OF PRINCIPLE
Outwardly they may ridicule them, but inwardly they wish they had the
same intestinal fortitude. And when they need someone that can be
trusted, and depended upon to carry through with an assigned task, who
do you think they will turn to?

God also admires individuals who will stand by their principles, and by
their words
Psalms 15 "LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your
holy hill? {2} He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart {3} and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, {4}
who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his
oath even when it hurts, {5} who lends his money without usury and does
not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will
never be shaken."

Our society is in great need of people with principle. Those who "dare
to be a Daniel", and demonstrate by example the value of being led by
"principle" rather than by "price", are not only highly valued by God but
also by their fellow man.

DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PURITY: HIS OPPONENTS COULD NOT
FIND ANY FAULT...
He was faultless when it came to management of his business affairs
Daniel 6:1-4: "It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule
throughout the kingdom, {2} with three administrators over them, one of
whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the
king might not suffer loss. {3} Now Daniel so distinguished himself among
the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the
king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. {4} At this, the
administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against
Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do
so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and
neither corrupt nor negligent."

This would help to explain his rise to positions of great responsibility
and power. Of course, his purity in business affairs was related to...His
overall purpose to please God first and the fact that as a man of
principle he could be trusted

THE CHRISTIAN IS ALSO TO MAINTAIN PURITY OF CONDUCT
1 Timothy 4:12: "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young,
but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in
faith and in purity."

People who maintain purity in their dealings with others are often given
positions of great responsibility and privilege, because they can be
trusted to use them wisely

Yes, Daniel was a man of purpose, principle, and purity (and how the
world needs more like him!). But the element that likely tied all these
together in such a way to receive blessings from God and favor from man
is the fact that..

DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PRAYER
Daniel 6:10: "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published,
he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward
Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving
thanks to his God, just as he had done before."

· He knelt in prayer, a demonstration of his humility
· He prayed three times daily, a demonstration of his continual
dependence upon God
· He gave thanks in the midst of persecution, a demonstration of his
gratitude and the fact that he had not lost sight of God's blessings
· His prayers were a "custom since early days", demonstrating his
persistence and faithfulness in his service to God

Is it not likely that his "custom" to pray so diligently helped him to
remain a man of purpose, principle and purity, despite his rise to power
and preeminence over the empire?

CHRISTIANS WOULD DO WELL TO FOLLOW DANIEL'S EXAMPLE...
"Let us learn the lesson that the finest of God's servants must maintain
regular and fixed prayer habits in order to continue steadfast in
devotion to the Lord." (Strauss)

As Christians, we too are to pray often. If our efforts to live
purposeful, principled, and pure lives are not what they should be, could
an undisciplined "prayer life" be the reason?

Are we willing to "dare to be a Daniel" in regards to prayer?

There is a false assumption that to "get ahead" in this world on must
conform to the sinful practices of the world. But even today there are
many Christians who demonstrate that when one "dares to be a Daniel"
they can succeed in the affairs of men without selling their souls to the
world

How about you? Will you "dare to be a Daniel" by becoming a person of:
a. PURPOSE? b. PRINCIPLE? c. PURITY?
d. PRAYER?

Last modified: April 18, 2006