‘A wise king sifts out the wicked, and brings the threshing wheel over them» (Proverbs 20:26).
The prophet Daniel was chosen to continue his work among the highest authorities of the Medo-Persian government. Even the king wanted to put him in charge of administering the whole kingdom, even above the three administrators, of Whom he was one. The Bible says that «Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him» (Daniel 6:3). By then, the prophet was already elderly, but he continued to stand out for his honesty, his efficiency, his responsibility, his intellectual acuity, and his true interest in solving the government’s problems. The king could observe in Daniel the transparency of an honest man, trustworthy and hard working. His devotional habits, a job well-done, his attitude toward his work, and his deep interest in the nation’s progress had captivated the monarch’s attention. Darius felt a deep admiration for that mature man, who was earnest, prudent, and faithful to the cause of his God and his superior.
Daniel’s companions were people prone to corruption and had created a whole chain of bribes to enrich themselves. However, Daniel was a major obstacle to carrying out their arbitrariness. So they persuaded the king to sign a decree to cast into the lions’ den anyone who for thirty days prayed to a god or man other than the king. Naively, the monarch signed the decree. Daniel continued like always with his prayer habits and was thrown into the lions’ den. The king realized that he had been deceived by his officials, but there was nothing he could do. However, the angels of God protected the prophet. Later, the monarch decided to destroy the corrupt officials of his court and ordered them to be thrown to the lions. That was their end.
Corruption has a very high cost to any government. Whether it is the illegitimate use of insider information, bribery, extortion, nepotism, cronyism, manipulation, despotism, impunity, and so on, it will have dire consequences. For example, it destroys the structures of government, it is an obstacle to economic development, it puts an end to the confidence the people have in its authorities, it makes a society more vulnerable and, if that were not enough, it prepares the ground to cover illegal practices of greater magnitude: money laundering, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, among other things.
Today ask the Lord to help you follow Daniel’s example. He will protect you from any adverse situation.
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Take From: Daily Devotions for Youth 2020
«A New You»
From: Alejandro Medina Villareal
Collaborators: Gezer Noria & Misael Morillo
