The fine line between
success and failure is really quite broad and well
defined. It is not coincidental that some people excel at what they do while
others barely get by. There are reasons why we achieve and there are reasons
why we fail. Daniel broke the mold of mediocre living. He excelled in a social
environment where the majority of his countrymen were content with the status
quo. When examining Daniel’s life, you'll quickly discover that his fame did
not happen by chance. Instead, you'll find that his rise to power can be traced
to three important decisions.
First, Daniel
chose character over comfort.
In a short period of
time, Daniel developed a reputation. He was known to be honorable and ethical his
closet was clean ... there were no skeletons waiting to haunt him. Even Daniel’s
enemies found him trustworthy. Unfortunately, we are living in a time when it
is extremely easy to compromise our integrity. So what if I take some supplies
home from the factory or have someone else punch my time card? Who is going to
say anything if you stretch the truth or sneak an answer on an exam or cheat on
your income tax a letter was sent to the tax authority. It stated: "Dear Sirs,
last year when I filed my income tax return, I deliberately misrepresented my
income. Now I cannot sleep. Enclosed is a check for N15,000 for taxes. If I
still can't sleep, I will gladly send you the rest."
It is easy to compromise our virtue especially
when this type of behavior has become the accepted norm. But such compromise
will cost you the joy of unhindered fellowship with the lord. In your life,
strive for ethical and moral purity ... like Daniel, be willing to be
different. The apostle peter declared:
. . . make every effort to add to your faith
goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge,
self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance,
godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly
kindness, love. For if you
possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and
unproductive in your knowledge of our lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not
have them, he is nearsighted and
blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. -2Peter 1:5-9
At times, the modern church more often
compliments rather than contrasts the behavior of the world. Unlike many of his
contemporaries, Daniel chose character over comfort. He had the courage to be
different.
Secondly, Daniel excelled because he chose
discipline over disorder.
Among other things, Daniel
had a disciplined prayer life. In v.10 we read:
three times a day he got down on his knees and
prayed, giving thanks to his god. The reason why some people succeed while
others fail has little to do with
abilities. Most of our failures can be traced to an absence of discipline. I
don't believe the Germany team would have won the World Cup if the individual
players were not disciplined in their practice sessions. It takes discipline in
order to excel. You can't sow wild oats and then pray for a crop failure.
Here are some areas where most of us need
greater discipline. First, we need to control our tongue. More people are run
down by gossip than automobiles. Although many would consider gossip a lesser
sin than murder, gossip can kill friendships, disrupt a family, divide a
church, and assassinate a person's character. Someone once said: great minds
discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.
We must all learn to discipline our tongue.
Second, we need more discipline in our
devotional life. I wonder, do we have the right to complain about the absence
of prayer in our school when there is an absence of prayer in our home? Should
we defend the bible in public yet deny it in the privacy of our own lives? Do
we have a right to complain about the moral decay of Nigeria if we fail to pray
for our nation? Three times every day Daniel got down on his knees and intercedes
before God.
Third, we need a more disciplined church life. In
over twenty five years of serving the lord, I have learned how important the
church is to my spiritual growth and stability. In fact, I have learned that I
need the church far more than the church needs me. I need to be in an
atmosphere where my perceptions of life can be challenged. I need to be in an
environment that offers me an opportunity to learn and utilize my spiritual
gifts. I need to be involved in a church where I am held accountable for my
actions ... a place where I can receive Godly wisdom. I also need to be in
fellowship with people who hold to the same values that I embrace. I need to be
involved in a church where I can be encouraged when I feel like giving up ... a
place where others will pray for me when I’m too discouraged to pray for
myself. No, you don't have to remind me about the imperfections that exist in
the church. But all the criticism will never undo the positive role the church plays!
In building the kingdom of God work on developing a disciplined pattern of
church attendance.
Daniel excelled
because he chose discipline over disorder
Finally, Daniel excelled because he chose love
over life.
A new law had been
issued. No one was permitted to pray for the next 30 days and anyone caught
doing so would be fed to the lions. This law was really nothing more than a
smoke screen some people were using to get Daniel into trouble because they
knew Daniel would never stop praying. Well, it wasn't very long before Daniel
heard about the new law. Verse 10 states:
“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. -Dan 6:10"
I’m convinced that Daniel wasn't really
interested in becoming Sunday’s brunch for the lion's club. But when faced with
a decision, he chose love over life. Daniel’s first allegiance was to God.
Is your love for Christ
more important than your ambitions?
Is God more important to you than the acceptance of your peers?
Is Christ more worthy than the pursuit of power or possessions?
Is God more important to you than the acceptance of your peers?
Is Christ more worthy than the pursuit of power or possessions?
There is an old chorus
which says:
“Lord,
you are more precious than silver. Lord, you are more costly than gold.
Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds. Nothing
I desire compares with you”.
Is that your testimony this morning?
When faced with an
option, Daniel chose love over life. What is it costing you to be a follower of
Jesus Christ? Are we guilty of making Christianity a religion of convenience?
Have we replaced self-denial with self-service? Daniel
was determined to serve God regardless of the consequences.
I love verse 23: “the king was overjoyed and
gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no
wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. -Dan
6:23
We are not always isolated from painful
experiences. There will be times when you and I will not escape the
tribulations of life. But if we continue to trust in the lord, he will bring us
through these experiences unharmed I like the way David said it: “You are my hiding place; You will protect me
from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. -Psalm
32:7
How can we break the mold of mediocre living? The
same way Daniel broke the mold:
· choose character over comfort
· choose discipline over disorder
· choose love over life
