Can God count on you to be faithful even when no one is looking?

 

READ: Daniel 1:8-17

 

Daniel 1:17

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. (NIV)

 

• God gave these men special understanding – He blessed them
• He gave Daniel the ability to understand visions and dreams
• He had given Joseph this same ability (Gen. 41)
• God blessed Daniel and the others by giving them authority in this foreign land
• Daniel gave all the glory and credit to God

  APPLICATION:

• God is able to give special abilities to whomever He chooses
• When we use our gifts we are to give Him all the glory and credit
• God will bless us when we are obedient
• They were faithful in the small things (their diet) and God blessed them with more. (Mt. 25)

Several years ago there was a pastor that was out of town for a conference. He was far from home and far from the eyes and ears of his community and church. He was all alone, and lonely as he stayed by himself in this nice hotel. One evening on his way back up to his room he stepped into an elevator. At the next floor two beautiful young women got on the elevator as well. They struck up a conversation, and before they got off for their floor they asked him if he would like to join them in their room for a few drinks. He blushed, and was a little surprised that these young ladies would be interested in a middle aged man such as himself. But he quickly declined and thanked them anyway. He pushed the button for his floor and proceeded to his room alone. After using his key card, he went to the phone and quickly called his wife to tell her that he was thinking of her, and that he loved her and the kids. That man later came to be known through radio and television as the great preacher Chuck Swindoll.

 

We hear the phrase all the time, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. But does it really? How many marriages and reputations have been ruined forever by this mindset. How often do men and women throw their moral compass out the window because no one is around to witness what they are doing?

 

Daniel and his friends were in a similar situation. They could have said “Hey, what happens in Babylon, stays in Babylon!”. But they didn’t. They remained true to their convictions and to the Law of God. They could have easily blended in with the other men that were being trained in the King’s court, but they chose to obey in a very small way – their diet.

 

Daniel’s desire was to please God in all that he did. He was so resolved to be obedient that even though he was not in his own land he would consider himself under the law. And because he chose to be faithful in the smallest of things God blessed him with even greater things.

 

One commentary said, “Daniel had trusted his situation to God who intervened on Daniel’s behalf to move the official’s heart to show favor (ḥeseḏ, “loyal love”) and sympathy (raḥămîm, “compassion”) to Daniel.” [i] Because Daniel was faithful God moved in the heart of the guard to have sympathy on them, and to even be loyal towards him and his friends.

 

Later we see in verses 19-20 that “The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 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.” Imagine that! The kingdom of Babylon was the largest and most powerful in the history of mankind, and Daniel and his group of men were the wisest in all the land.

 

The author goes on to say, “Daniel’s ministry in the royal court of Babylon continued until the overthrow of the Babylonian Empire by Cyrus in 539 B.C. God had said, “Those who honor Me, I will honor” (1 Sam. 2:30). Daniel determined to honor God even though he was living where people did not have the high standards God demanded. And God honored Daniel’s obedience to the Law and promoted him in the king’s court.” [ii] Nebuchadnezzar depended on Daniel to interpret a number of dreams over the years. Daniel’s influence over him finally paid off. In Daniel chapter four we see the king returning from a period of insanity, and he confessed these words, “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praise the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever.” (Daniel 4:34a)

 

Imagine how this simple act of obedience elevated Daniel to such a position of influence that the King of Babylon was able to praise the Most High God! Nebuchadnezzar was the pagan of all pagans. He was responsible for the slaughter of hundreds of thousands. And because of God’s blessing in Daniel’s life, we find this evil king praising the God of the Universe!

 

God still desires to use faithful men and women today. We still live in a sin sick world and God still needs heroes of the faith. He still needs men and women who will stand and be counted as faithful. Even when no one is looking.

 

What about you? Can God count on you to be faithful in the small things? If we will, He will bless us and we will find ourselves doing things that we never imagined possible.

 

Ask God where He would like you to be faithful? What is it that God is calling you to do? Where do you need to take a stand?

 

Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today or see me for a copy.

www.lifejournal.cc

 

If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to have faith in Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com

 

 

 

[i] Pentecost, J. D. (1985). Daniel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1331). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[ii] Pentecost, J. D. (1985). Daniel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1332). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.