Daniel 6:4

New International Version (NIV)

At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.

For Meditation

1. Is it not said that integrity is the hallmark of true Christianity? For, what is Christianity without truth (Jn. 14:6); and what is truth without Christ, the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6)?
2. As children of God then, shouldn’t integrity adorn us from head to toes? Shouldn’t it be the chief quality we bring to the table in any relationship? Shouldn’t people expect us to be truthful to the core when they deal with us?
3. Shouldn’t integrity be our distinguishing mark in a crooked world? Should we not be found trustworthy and reliable in our work places, family responsibilities, and ministry without being negligent (Eph. 6:14)? Shouldn’t truth and honesty precede us in everything? Otherwise, how could our message and witness be received with any seriousness?
4. Don’t we love dealing with people who are fitly adorned in garbs of integrity? Can you understand then, why Daniel lasted through four kings as a civil servant in a pagan environment? Is it not refreshing to know that even in a crooked world system, integrity is the chief quality employers consider for promotion within their organizations (Dan. 6:3)? And what joy we bring to our parents when we receive such honor!
5. Can you, therefore, imagine God, sitting on His throne and reading the report card of Daniel after that thorough, jealousy-driven, and well-coordinated audit by his colleagues into, “his conduct of government affairs” (4)? What an honor Daniel brought to God when the audit report concluded: “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God” (5)!

I pray that before we give in to corruption with the excuse that we cannot avoid contamination in a corrupt world, we will remember the report card of Daniel. If he could uphold his integrity under such conditions and prosper at the same time, we can do even better because of the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 1 Jn. 2:20, 27).

So: May we adorn ourselves with integrity in everything we do so that Jesus Christ would be honored in our lives; and may promotion follow us everywhere we go because we have determined to do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31)

Shalom