''Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.......
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion [to bring accusation] against this Daniel except we find it against him concerning the law of his God''Daniel 6:3-5.
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; for as much as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
The secret of overcoming wicked criticism and undue fault finding is to simply be faithful. Doing what is right at all times is the antidote to worrying over falling into the traps of men.
When a man is faithful, his focus is on doing what is right not just in the eyes of men (who are often easily impressed) but in the eyes of Him who searches the heart for motives unseen. A faithful man does what is right at the time that is right, in the way he ought, to whom he should and for how long he must. He does to men what he ought by duty to do not minding if the men deserve or merit it. Enemies and opponents themselves are often overpowered when they realize that their bad disposition towards the faithful man didn't affect his faithfulness even where they are the ones concerned.
He doesn't read the environment before doing what duty demands. He doesn't gauge the faithfulness of others around as a measure of how to be faithful. He doesn't mind to be disadvantaged in order that duty may be done and that God may be satisfied.
However, faithfulness is not without its problems . . . the Jealousy and Envy of unfaithful men! . . . . the animosity of men who do not want to be faithful and yet do not want others by faithfulness to expose their own unfaithfulness.
Even then, the solution is still "faithfulness as aforetime". Continuing in faithfulness even in the face of wickedness is what provokes God not only to vindicate us but to punish the wickedness. When in the face of opposition and cheating for faithfulness sake, we change and become less faithful in order to avoid the wickedness of men, we actually make ourselves vulnerable because God withdraws and leaves us at their mercy.
Daniel's faithfulness made for him enemies. Daniel's faithfulness destroyed all his enemies.
Please take time to pray :Lord, make me a faithful man all over again. Increase and improve my level of faithfulness. Cause me to see YOU and your demands over my life and see my duty face to face in Jesus name (Amen).
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