“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.” – Daniel 2:48

Many people have heard about Daniel in the lions’ den and how God sent His angels to shut the mouths of the lions to protect Daniel. God did this because Daniel was a good and faithful servant.  Even when the unbelieving king Darius signed the order for everyone to only bow and pray to his statue, Daniel immediately went home, opened the windows so everyone could see, and knelt down to pray to the one true God.  Thus, Daniel was thrown into the den of the lions as punishment.

One of the main takeaways from this particular story is not only does Daniel obey God, but he does it in the midst of a pagan, unbelieving ruler. How many of us can say that we work for a person or persons that is sometimes less than ethical?  How often do we see people and even some so-called friends do things that isn’t right according to God’s standards?  If we are honest with ourselves, we live in a society that rewards unethical behavior and people who “do whatever it takes.”  But that’s not how God wants this world to act.

I like the old saying about, “Integrity is what you do when nobody’s watching.” In truth, there is always somebody watching, and that person is Jesus Christ.  No matter what this world says, if you can’t do something with integrity, then it shouldn’t be done.  The rat race of corporate America tells you that it’s OK to break a few rules now and then to get more money.  People who are after a few more bucks write up contracts that aren’t worth the paper they are written on, and for what?  A few more steaks in the freezer?  Even Jesus Himself said, “What does it profit a man that he should gain the world and loose his own soul?”  Money, sex, prestige, whatever the reason is, we aren’t even gaining the whole world.  We are only selling out for a small part of this world, and it’s a world that will pass away.

What will be left is your eternal soul. In the end, forever, you and I will be in Heaven or hell, period.  If you are a born-again Christian, you know where you will end up and that’s with our Father in Heaven.  But there is a job to do before then.  As a child of the Most High God, it is our job to follow Christ in word and in deed.  When you turn your life over to Christ, you are not immediately taken up to Heaven.  You are left in this world to show others what’s right and to turn them from their sinful ways.  Just like Daniel, in whatever job you do and wherever pays your salary, you are to show integrity and honesty is everything you do.  You may be the only experience that someone will have with a Christian, so be a good experience.  You represent the holy name of God, so show people what that means.

A company or any place will be blessed because you are there. You are a light for the world to guide by, and that light better shine towards Jesus.  Daniel showed his earthly king what his Heavenly King was all about, and it prospered Daniel and those around him.

Daniel is a great example of how a Christian should act, even when working for an unbelieving boss. Eventually, those around Daniel, including the king, would come to see what a wonderful and powerful God that Daniel served.  Let those you meet and also work with see what a wonderful and powerful God you serve, today and every day.

God’s blessings to you.

DH