Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. – Daniel 6:4-5 (NLT)
As I was reading this passage yesterday evening, I couldn’t help but think of our recent presidential election; more specifically, the purely malicious and critical nature of those campaigning. It wasn’t very hard for either of the candidates to find “dirt” on the other. The corruption was all right there on the surface, no digging required.
But there was no such corruption in Daniel to be found. The deeper Daniel’s adversaries dug to find “dirt” on him, the more frustrated they became. In today’s vernacular, they scoured every line in his tax returns but found nothing improper. They ran background checks, but couldn’t find even a speeding ticket on his legal record. They dedicated an army of people to research his social media accounts and again they came up with nothing they could hold against him. These officials finally realized there was nothing there to condemn.
Daniel was honest, consistently reliable, and trustworthy.
So much of Daniel’s character can be found in the words of the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Colossae: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5).
Daniel’s life in Babylon is a powerful testimony to the impact of unwavering integrity and faithfulness. The irony is that Daniel lived in a foreign culture and was an outsider! But he conducted himself with wisdom and excellence, to the point that even his enemies could find no fault in him – no corruption, no negligence, nothing that would tarnish his reputation or his God-honoring life. Even in a culture that opposed his faith, he understood that with God, he was never truly outnumbered. His faithfulness was not dependent on his circumstances or the approval of others, but on his relationship with the One who called him.
Likewise, our own lives should reflect God’s wisdom and faithfulness, even in difficult circumstances. When we choose integrity, responsibility, and trustworthiness in all our affairs, our conduct can speak volumes about God’s character.
Today’s Prayer: Lord, help us to live faithfully and wisely, no matter the circumstances. May our lives reflect Your character and draw others to You. Strengthen us to remain steadfast in our identity and purpose, trusting that with You, we are never alone. Amen.
Former Blackout Artist 