(Read Daniel 6:28)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. For the last few months we have studied the life of Daniel. We saw how God made Daniel and his friends grace based successes. This week I will provide a few closing messages about Daniel before we move on.
Today I will deal with the last verse of Daniel chapter six. I have shared this verse with you in the last few messages, but I have not dealt with it directly. Let’s do that now. The Bible says, “So Daniel was successful during the time Darius was king and when Cyrus the Persian was king.”
So what does this mean to you today? The Bible calls Daniel “successful”. He experienced this success under four different kings. Let’s think about Daniel and seek to glean a few nuggets about Godly success.
- Not all success is Godly success. There are people in this world, who many consider to be successful, who are not a success in God’s eyes. Joshua characterized what he called “Good success” in Joshua 1:8. If there is good success, there must also be bad success. The Bible calls Daniel a “success”, because the success he experienced was good and Godly. Daniel lived his life in a way that was pleasing in God’s sight. Are you? Are you pursuing good success or bad success? Is the success you are pursuing Godly? And if you are pursuing Godly success, are you pursuing it God’s way?
- You can pursue the wrong thing. Daniel entered Babylon as a slave and he was elevated to the #2 position in the kingdom under four different regimes. Daniel was a household name in Babylon. Daniel had fame and fortune, prestige and power, influence and authority. Daniel had it all, because he was not pursuing it. Daniel did not pursue fame or fortune, Daniel pursued God. Daniel did not pursue position or prominence, Daniel pursued God. In the New Testament Jesus taught a lesson about this (see Matthew 6). Jesus basically taught us not to pursue things, but instead to pursue God. If we pursue God instead of things, we will quickly find that things will pursue us. Daniel simply pursued God and because of it, fame, fortune, power and influence pursued him. I know you are work hard. I know you are determined, fixed and focused. But what are you pursuing? Take a moment to search your heart. Are you pursuing things or God? The answer to that question will be critical to your success in life.
- You can pursue the right thing the wrong way. Just like the right thing at the wrong time can become the wrong thing, pursuing the right thing the wrong way can become the wrong thing. Daniel did not pursue Godly success with worldly methods. He did not lie, cheat or steal. He did not connive, contrive or collude. Daniel simply prayed, he kept God first and he was led of God concerning what to do and when to do it. Learn from Daniel. Don’t pursue Godly success with worldly ways. The ends don’t justify the means in God’s Kingdom. You don’t get a pass for unscrupulous activity, just because your intentions were good. If you are going to pursue the right thing, God expects you to pursue it the right way. Daniel kept God first, he worked hard, he did everything with a spirit of excellence, and he walked through the doors God opened for him, instead of attempting to kick down doors himself. Think about how Daniel pursued success and now pause for a moment to think about yourself. Are you pursuing the right thing? And if you are, are you pursuing it the right way?
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. The fact that You have called me to live by faith helps to keep my perspective in order. I am not living by faith if I am coming up with everything. I am not living by faith if I am trying to make my own way. I am not living by faith if I am ruling my own life. For me to live by faith I have to remain in a position of humility, totally relying on You, seeking only to do what You lead me to do, and to then do it Your way. Faith begins where Your will is known. I can only have faith where I know You have already given me grace. So Father, I declare that I live by faith every day, in every way. I exercise my faith where I know You have already given me grace. I pursue You. I seek to live a life pleasing in Your sight. I enter every day simply wanting to do whatever You lead me to do. And as I do, as I seek to pursue You instead of things, I will find that things will pursue me. I experience Godly success. I am not a self-made man. I am a God made man, who pursues God’s will, God’s way for God’s glory! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
