“Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom” (Daniel 6:3).

This is a story about Thomas, a young man fresh out of college. (While I changed his name and a few details, the story is true.) After graduating, Thomas took a job working for a large home-building company. He worked diligently to learn the business, and excel in all did so he could provide for his young and growing family. 

However, Thomas had another motivation to do well. He wanted to honor God with the time and talents entrusted to him.

As time went on, however, Thomas began to see a pattern of dishonesty and injustice in the ways this company dealt with its customers. As a Christ-follower, Thomas had a choice to make. He could remain in his position and try to make a change from within by influencing the people around him for good. Or he could leave his position, form his own company, and honor God by being found “trustworthy, without corruption or neglect.” 

Thomas chose the latter. Over the next thirty years, with the Lord’s help (and a lot of ups and downs), he sought to change his world for good. His company built hundreds of thousands of high-quality homes for families across the country.

In our passage for this week, Daniel did not have the liberty of choosing whether to stay or go. He was taken prisoner to a foreign land and surrounded by all manner of idols and practices which he knew were forbidden if he were to remain faithful to the One True God. 

Daniel’s captivity spanned many years, and he was forced to serve under multiple “administrations.” Regardless of the king who reigned, Daniel sought ways to change his world for good. He so distinguished himself that “they could find no corruption in him” (vs. 4). 

For this, he was despised by some of his captors and was forced to spend the night with some hungry lions. He found favor with God as he exalted Him and declared Him the only God to be worshiped. Daniel chose to be found faithful to God and trusted Him with the results. Ultimately, God spared him from the lions. 

We might experience deceit and dishonesty, or even something worse: lions! But like Daniel (and Thomas), we, too, need to make a choice to trust in God’s sovereignty and be faithful to Him in the day-to-day.  The seemingly small choices we make and might just allow Him to help us change our world for good. 

Lord, give us eyes to see those places and spaces where we need to be more faithful and show greater integrity.  May all that we do serve to glorify You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.