Above Average Daniel 1:1-8; 17-21 Proverbs 16:2 Character: a distinctive trait, quality, or attribute; moral strength. Compromise: an adjustment of opposing principals in which part of each is given up; something midway between different things. Principle: a fundamental truth, law, doctrine, or motivating force, upon which others are based; a rule of conduct, especially right conduct. Men emphasize actions. God weighs spirits (attitudes). (Give an example of how the right thing can be done for the wrong reason) CHALLENGED A challenge is an opportunity to excel. To the mountain climber Mt. Everest is a challenge which affords him the opportunity to become famous. To a Christian, temptation is a challenge which presents him the opportunity to be an overcomer. Walking is a challenge to a baby. Reading is a challenge to a first grader. Living Holy is a challenge to a new-born child of God. Life would be flat without challenges or tests. Every one has tasted both success and failure. In some areas it is more important that we succeed than in others. Ten years from now it won t matter who won the church softball game. But whether or not you succeeded in keeping your temper during that game might still be having an effect on your life. In the book of Daniel we find four young men who met many challenges and succeeded. HISTORY: The ten northern tribes of Israel were taken captive by the Assyrians in 721 B.C. 85 years later King Nebuchadnezzar
overcame the two southern kingdoms of Judah and took them into captivity. Daniel was only a teenager when he was taken into Babylonian captivity. His three companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were probably about the same age. Yet these young people developed some tremendous qualities of Christian Character and devotion to Jehovah God. There were young men who had the same natural qualities of Daniel and his friends, but the king was impressed with these four because of their distinction from the others. God blessed these men in a special way because of their stand against compromise. Let me stop right here and say you ll never be above average by having a holier than thou attitude. It is our attitude that determines our altitude. Daniel never demanded his rights. He courteously asked to be excused. BIBLICAL PRINCIPALS OF CHARACTER Daniel and his friends were in a foreign land, exposed to many evils, idolatry, and opportunities to compromise, but they revealed several basic qualities of character. Consider these principles in their lives: They had made up minds. (Daniel 1:8) As the obvious leader of the four, Daniel purposed in his heart, made up his mind, that he would not defile himself by eating the king s meat or drinking his wine. This decision of abstinence was one of self-control and discipline in keeping himself pure from the idolatry of the Babylonians. In Babylon, the Hebrew God was not recognized but was rather mocked.
The very meat that they ate had significance of worship to their false gods. Daniel recognized this and refused to eat their meat and drink. Daniel knew in his heart what was right and what was wrong. He could have participated because he was in captivity but he chose rather to keep himself pure for his God. Many opportunities come to compromise your basic knowledge of right and wrong. When these temptations come you must confront them. You can only pass the test if you have a made up mind to do only as God desires. Anyone who is having a hard time living for God probably has not made up their mind to do so. They believed in unity. (Daniel 1:17-18) In the second year of King Nebuchadnezzer s reign he was troubled with dreams and he could not sleep. He called for the magicians, astrologers, and the sorcerers all of Babylon s wise men to interpret his dream. None of his wise men could interpret his dream. This made the king extremely furious and caused him to issue a decree, destroying all of Babylon s wise men. As the king came to slay Daniel and his friends, Daniel sought an audience with the king to request time, that he could receive the interpretation of his dream. The request was made and granted. Daniel immediately went to his friends and made the situation known to them. They were to seek the mercies of God, all four together, that the interpretation would be made known. Daniel recognized the strength in unity. We can accomplish much more together than we can alone. There is strength and power in unity and agreement. Jesus said, If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 18:19). Daniel did not try to be a super hero. He sought the strength of his friends through unity.
Christians who pray for and uphold one another find a great source of strength. Daniel was sensitive to God s Spirit. (Daniel 2:19) After Daniel joined in unity with his friends to seek God s answer, the secret was revealed to him in a night vision. Such an experience does not just happen; it is the product of an ongoing relationship with God. We should not wait until we are in the midst of trouble to seek God. As we build a daily relationship with the Lord, we can be sensitive to Him in times of difficulty and we can hear from Him. Daniel was quick to worship God. (Daniel 2:19-23) Daniel did not feel smug or confident within himself when he received the secret of the dream. Rather, he began to worship God and glorify God. He was quick to acknowledge that all wisdom, might, and knowledge belong to God. He did not exalt himself or feel proud of his accomplishment. He knew the glory belonged to God. God moves through the channel of worship. The more we worship Him, the more He is able to do for us. As we acknowledge Him in our lives, He directs our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-7) We can actually worship our way through our problems. Daniel was compassionate. (Daniel 2:24-25) He did not seek to save only his and his friends lives, but also the lives of his enemies. Daniel and his friends were captives (prisoners-of-war) in Babylon. They were not kept there by choice. When Daniel delivered the secret of the dream unto the king, he could have sought to save only the lives of himself and his friends. They could have immediately been elevated in Babylon by the process of elimination. Some people would delight in eliminating their enemies. Daniel, however, possessed compassion for his enemies.
There was no evil desire in his heart to see them destroyed; therefore he sought to save all the wise men s lives. Compassion for others is a fine quality that we all need. Sometimes it is tempting to be cruel to our enemies, not thinking how we would feel in the same situation. If we want mercy ourselves, we must first be merciful to others. (Proverbs 11:17; Matthew 5:7) Daniel gave honor and glory to God. (Daniel 2:28) He was not seeking glory for himself. He was not interested as much in what men thought about him as he was in what they thought about His God. There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, he said. (Daniel 2:28) God will use people who are quick to give Him the glory. He will not share His glory with another (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11). If we are prone to glorify God and not ourselves, He will readily use us in great ways. Daniel was a loyal friend. (Daniel 2:47-49) Nebuchadnezzer responded to Daniel s interpretation of the dream acknowledging his God as a God of gods and a Lord of kings (2:47). Then he immediately proceeded to make Daniel a great man by giving him many gifts and making him ruler over the whole province of Babylon. Daniel, however, could not accept such honor and forget his friends who had sought God with him. He remembered them and requested a place of leadership for them as well as himself. How easy it would have been for Daniel to have forgotten them in this time of honor. But his deep sense of character would not permit him to overlook their sacrifice and assistance in prayer. It is easy to seek help of our friends when we are in trouble but forget them when things are going well. A true friend is a friend in the good times as well as the bad times. A real friend loveth at all times (Proverbs 17:17).
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were faithful and fearless when tempted. (Daniel 3:16-18) Tell the story of the Fiery furnance There was a basic quality of courage and faithfulness to their supreme God that caused them to lay their lives on the line. They knew what was right and were determined to do it if the cost was their very lives. What faith and courage prompted them to say, He is able to deliver us, but whether He does or not, we will not bow! Sometimes the cost of living for God in front of our peers looks tremendously enormous. The challenge to compromise our knowledge of right and wrong is often before us. Yet we have the promise that if we are faithful to God, God will be faithful to us. We will always come out victorious. They knew how to pray. (Daniel 6:10) This is especially obvious in Daniel s time of testing. Tell the story of Daniel in the lion s den. Daniel did not decide that he would violate the decree; there was no decision to make. He simply continued to pray as he always did three times a day (Daniel 6:10). He was consistent in prayer, and no decree could change what he knew was right. God will honor and bless those who are consistent in prayer. Prayer becomes the great shield of God s protection as it ascends unto God daily. Prayer is not only for overcoming problems, it builds and maintains a person s relationship with Jesus Christ. Then this relationship gives a person confidence that whatever happens in his life, God will be with him and protect him. Daniel had an excellent spirit. (Daniel 5:12) His attitude was right.
He did not think of himself more highly than he ought to think. (Romans 12:3) This was perhaps Daniel s highest quality of character. How important is our attitude! Through every other area of a Christian s life may be in order, his attitude can mess up the whole arrangement if it is not right. Although men judge others by the obvious, outward signs, God weighs men s spirits (attitudes).