Refuse To Be Corrupted
“Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” Daniel 1: 3-4
When Nebuchadnezzar had captured Judah, he needed some of the young men of Judah to serve in his government, the criteria needed to be selected is – Good look, strong, healthy, gifted with knowledge and judgment. These were the qualities the king needed for anyone that would serve him.
It’s just like today when a company needs to employ new staffs; most of them require the best hand, First Class degree, hardworking, some years of working experiences etc.
“The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.” Daniel 1: 5
So for three years, these chosen men would be trained under the king’s chief of staff’s supervision, and they would be fed from the royal kitchen. With assorted wines, best foods in the land and possibly women of their tastes, if it is in our present day.
You can imagine, if the presidency decides to select some young men to work with the president, and they are being trained for a period of three years, they will have access to anything they want in the presidential villa, including the “Abuja runs-girls!”
“But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king (He refused to be corrupted with the politician’s ways of life. He refused to choose their lifestyle but to obey the ways of the Lord). He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods” Daniel 1: 8
“Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded” Daniel 1: 9-10
Just like in our present days, when you are serving corrupt people, they expect you to do the same corrupt things they are doing. They expect you to carry prostitutes, fornicate about, take excessive wine, and get drunk all the time. They expect you to steal money and oppress the poor.
But Daniel said, no, I refuse to be a part of this. No I do not accept his corruption but I choose to serve my God and obey His decrees. And he said;
“Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water, “ Daniel said “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see. Then the attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days” Daniel 1: 12-14
Daniel chose to obey God’s laws rather than be corrupted with the king’s ways. How many Christians today will be able to look corruption in the face and say “no, I don’t have interest, I choose to obey my God?”
How many Christians will say, “test me with that position and I won’t steal a dime from the treasury but I will still be better than the ones stealing and looting the treasury?”
But God is good, He is always faithful to those who put all their trusts in Him alone.
“At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others” Daniel 1: 15-16
Yes of course, at the end they are always better when they choose to follow the ways of the Lord Almighty rather than champion the ways of men! Truly those corrupt ones will always fail, they will always be met with challenges of life; court cases every day, EFCC chasing every day, sickness and diseases, heart failure and dying young. But the child of God who refuses to be corrupted is always free from all these. And amazingly they always succeed in their assignment at the end of it.
Praise the Lord! “When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to king Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azaniah. So they entered the royal service.
“Whenever the king consulted with them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom” Daniel 1: 18-20
When you obey the Lord’s commands, the Lord gives you wisdom and understanding to be able to handle situations and circumstances. If you refuse to be corrupt, God will always guide you to live above sin and He Himself will teach you His wisdom.
Praise the Lord!
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