Now the lords of Babylon plotted against him and sought to find fault against him so that they could accuse him to the king. They spied on Daniel; they pried into all his work; they watched him, but they could not find a fault.
Daniel 6:4
We spoke of three key areas yesterday, personal, private and public life. Daniel is a wonderful example of how to have a life underpinned with integrity.
This chapter deals with a situation in Daniel’s public life through jealousy. They spied on Daniel; (jealous people) they pried into all his work; they watched him, but they could not find a fault.
What does this say about how we should behave at work? I believe it tells us to work hard and do the best knowing we represent God. In fact, the Apostle Paul says “whatever you do, do it as if you were doing it for God”. Now there’s a thought the next time your boss says to do something you dislike.
You would think his work colleagues would have been proud of Daniel’s public life, but not so. Just the opposite. In fact, jealousy started to well up inside them.
Let’s stop there for a moment and let us ask have we ever been jealous? I must include myself in this? How did it make you feel? Probably more important what did you do about it?
These men decided to act, which consequently led to their own downfall. Perhaps there is a lesson for us all here?
Back to the event though. They did find one thing they could use against Daniel, his faith in God, particularly a life devoted to prayer. It is often been said that your strongest link in actual fact could also be your weakest. These jealous people thought so and planned to use Daniel’s strength to bring him down.
So, the plan worked based on Daniel’s private life. They knew Daniel was just as integral in private as well as in public.
In Daniel’s home life we find something that Daniel did daily. He prayed. Yes, I am afraid we have to stop there again. If we want to have an underpinned life strong and secure, daily prayer is a must.
You see when the chips are down Daniel prayed. The very thing they thought was going to be Daniel’s ruin was Daniel’s saviour. It still goes today. Prayer is a powerful weapon.
As Daniel was led into the lions’ den his jealous enemies must have been delighted. Little did they know of the God Daniel served. In fact, let us end by using Daniel’s own words
My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before Him, innocence was found in me.
I hope I have encouraged you to have your life underpinned by God. You see Daniel’s work life and home life set him above everyone else, because he was not one person at work and another person at home.
You too can be a Daniel
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