Working for God's Gloryنموونە

Firm in Your Beliefs

The biblical story of Daniel is a wonderful example of being creative and flexible, yet faithful, in an environment that is opposed to one's beliefs.

Daniel did not want to defile himself with the king's food and wine. He trusted God and approached the chief of the eunuchs with a proposal to allow Daniel and his three friends to eat only vegetables and drink only water for ten days. After ten days, the chief could compare Daniel and his friends' appearances with those of the other young men and decide who looked the healthiest.

Brothers, can you wrap your head around this outlandish request? An enslaved person from a conquered land refused to eat the king’s food. God intervened.

Firstly, God blessed Daniel with favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs.

Secondly, God provided Daniel with creative wisdom to provide a solution that would not compromise his beliefs or disrespect the king.

Lastly, Daniel was not hardheaded in his request but respectfully (by referring to himself as a servant) suggested an alternate approach.

Daniel and his three friends looked healthier at the end of the ten days, and God was glorified.

As Christian men, we need to respect our employers' directions. However, when these directions contradict our beliefs, we must find a way to serve our employer without compromising our convictions.

For example, if you were asked to work on a Sunday, instead of making an excuse, you might switch with another employee and work on Saturday instead.

To be completely transparent, I have made up excuses in the workplace to avoid situations that would compromise my beliefs. I have also been hard-headed in responding to directions that contradict my beliefs. I pray God will grant me Daniel’s courage to find a solution in these testing situations.

There might be situations where no solution can be found. If we pray about it, God will bless us and ensure we find favor in the eyes of our employers. It is imperative to stay loyal to our employers but without compromising our beliefs. Proverbs 3:4 states, “Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.”

Prayer: Dear Father, grant us the courage not to compromise our beliefs to fit into company culture. Grant us the wisdom to find solutions to remain loyal to our employer and to stand for what is right when this is impossible. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection: In preparation for tomorrow’s devotional, consider what “integrity” looks like in your work.