Excellence in Our Integrity
Many a person proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy person? A righteous person who walks in his integrity—How blessed are his sons after him.
(Proverbs 20:6–7 NASB)
Daniel 6:4 (NASB) says: “Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.”
Daniel was faithful on the job. Now be careful here. We often use the word faithful only as it relates to the spiritual life or the religious life. But it’s not talking about faithfulness at church or in the temple, as if referring to worship. They are investigating his occupation. They are looking for something they could criticize in his faithfulness at work. This passage says that when Daniel was investigated, he was found to be faithful in his work. There was an absence of negligence. The Berkeley Version of the Bible says he was faithful “in the discharge of his official duties” (Daniel 6:4). The New International Version says he was “neither corrupt nor negligent.”
Look at Proverbs 20:6–7. Verse 6 reads: “Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?”
Superb question! Trustworthy people are rare, I remind you. Only on very few occasions will you find an individual who is completely trustworthy. I once had a man tell me that in his business it isn’t the public that gives him trouble; it’s his employees. It isn’t just the public that steals his goods, it’s more often those who work for him. A close friend who is the president of a bank said the highest risks for bank loans were preachers! Isn’t that significant? Those who gave him the most grief were those who were engaged continually in the ministry of God’s Word.
It’s time again to appraise our personal lives. Are we trustworthy? Can others count on us to get the job done when the boss isn’t around? Are we faithful employees? Can we be trusted with money? An expense account? The privilege of a company car?
Proverbs 20:7 goes on to say: “A righteous man who walks in his integrity—How blessed are his sons after him.” A righteous man walks where? He walks in his integrity. Now, that’s what Daniel 6 is talking about. Daniel was faithful in his work. There was no negligence, no corruption found in him. What a man! Faithful in his work.
