Integrity Should Not Be Adjusted for Circumstances

4So the governors and satraps sought to find somecharge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find itagainst him concerning the law of his God.”

10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

11Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. (Daniel 6: 4-5, 10-11 NKJV)

Integrity is something that is not adjusted by circumstances!

A few observations from Daniel this morning.

1. When the world is unable to attack you because of your integrity, they will attack you because of what you believe.

We see that they did everything they could to bring Daniel down in the natural.  However, his relationship with the Lord, and his relationship with the King caused him to be a person of integrity.  As a result of the honor and service Daniel gave to God and the King he was blessed abundantly, he prospered in all he did, and he was promoted to positions of leadership.  Those who did not like Daniel, who were jealous of his position, and wanted to bring him down could only use his integrity against him.

2. People of integrity do not allow circumstances to adjust who they are in Him.

Daniel prayed three times a day.  He was not starting a rebellion.  He was not starting something to spite the king and the law.  He was continuing to do what he had always done.  He prayed to God.  The plan hatched by his enemies was successful because they knew He loved God more then he loved man. Because He loved God more loved man he was not going to adjust.

3. We serve the Lord regardless of perceived consequences.

Daniel knew that he would be punished.  Daniel knew the results of his actions would elicit a response.  He did what was right regardless of that response.  He was willing to die more than he was willing to adjust his relationship with God.

We are seeing this all of the world today.  Many people across the world are currently being thrown in prison, beaten, even martyred for their faith.  They have the opportunity to retract and recant their faith, but choose their relationship with God over their earthly peace. They are an example of Revelation 12:12 where they did not love their lives to death.

If you read the rest of Daniel you see everything works out in the natural as we would think it should.  But I want to say Daniel did the right thing even if it would not have worked out the way it did.  Integrity does not change as a result of our current circumstances or consequences.