Issue #165, September 30, 2015
Daniel correctly interpreted the handwriting on the wall only hours before a new ruler, Darius, overthrew the kingdom. Daniel was one of three highest leaders in the new government and lead with such excellence that the king was ready to promote him. This provoked jealousy among his colleagues and they tried in every way to find fault with Daniel. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God” (Daniel 6:3-5). Daniel led with such “exceptional qualities” that although they looked hard they couldn’t find anything wrong! Daniel’s faith was clearly evident in his work. Servant leaders can learn to lead with excellence in their vocation as Daniel did.
Daniel led with excellence by being trustworthy.
Daniel was worthy of the trust placed in him as a key leader of the nation. Kings trust very few people but Daniel earned his confidence by the life that he lived. Trust is earned by consistently displaying solid character for a long time. Without it, a leader cannot lead. Servant leaders earn the trust of those around them. Even Daniel’s enemies admitted that he was trustworthy.
Daniel led with excellence by resisting corruption.
Daniel lived and served in an empire known for corruption but his colleagues could not find any evidence of corruption in his leadership. Daniel certainly faced many opportunities to use his office for personal gain and many people were willing to pay for favors. But Daniel could not be bought or bribed. His expense accounts were accurate, his financial reports were clean. His decisions were not biased by finances. Servant leaders do not reflect their environment; they shape it as they resist corruption like Daniel.
Daniel led with excellence by not being negligent.
It would be very easy for Daniel to begin to enjoy the privileges of high office and spend his time eating and drinking at the expense of his duties. He had subordinates who could do the work while he relaxed. But Daniel did his job with excellence and didn’t neglect any aspect of his responsibilities. Servant leaders, whether in a high or low position, are willing to work hard and complete all aspects of their role with excellence.
Daniel led with excellence by revealing his faith.
Daniels’ enemies finally concluded that that the only way to bring him down was to make his faith illegal! They proceeded to change the law and the result was Daniel in the lion’s den. We often focus more on the story of the lions than the reasons he faced them. Daniel was thrown to the lions because the excellence of his work revealed his faith. Daniel was not preaching his faith in church; his life of faith was very evident in his workplace. Servant leaders express their faith in what they do every day; they put their faith to work!
We desperately need leaders like Daniel in every vocation and at every level of society, men and women who lead with excellence at what they do and whose only ‘fault’ is their faith in God. Let’s each renew our commitment to serve with excellence as we show our faith in how we work.
For further reflection and discussion:
- If my colleagues set out to try to find fault in my work, how long would it take them to find something wrong? What would they discover when they looked closely at how I spend my time, handle money, speak to others, represent my organization to others, treat junior staff, or talk about those in authority?
- In my vocation, how is corruption expressed? (Think of how people use position and power to influence wrongly. This may not always be with money.) In what ways am I personally most tempted to compromise my integrity?
- Is there any part of my role as a leader that is currently being neglected? Are there other things on which I am spending more time than I should which cause this task to be neglected? If so, what is God inviting me to do to complete this task?
- Is my commitment to Christ the only fault others can find with my life? If they went through all my possessions, checked my email accounts and computer history, dug through my financial records, checked my tax returns and talked to my neighbors, would they find anything for which I am to blame?