The secret to one godly politician’s spectacular decades-long success …
Politicians fall over themselves in their attempt to take credit for anything good. This selfish act is sometimes referred to as “stealing thunder” or claiming praise, attention, or “glory” for something someone else is really responsible for.
But the Old Testament tells us about a “politician” who served in high office of the administrations of multiple kings and was wildly successful doing so.
And he was a godly man.
That man is Daniel, someone you might not think of as a politician, but his adult life was spent in key positions governing the world’s greatest powers in his time. It started like this:
“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 Azariah. So they entered the royal service. Whenever the king consulted 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 remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus,” Daniel 1:18-21.
A lot of people can dip their toe into politics, but to get a real break and be elevated to high office happens to very few. Daniel’s “big break” actually came very shortly after his start in the royal service. The opportunity came after a night when King Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream that he couldn’t understand. So he called for all the “wise men” in his royal service; however, he didn’t just demand they tell him the meaning of his dream, in order to know they were telling him the truth, he wouldn’t tell them what his dream was and he demand they tell him both his dream and the meaning of it. That freaked out the council of wise guys:
“The astrologers replied to the king, ‘No one on earth can tell the king his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer! The king’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people,'” Daniel 2:10-11.
Nebuchadnezzar didn’t like that response:
“The king was furious when he heard this, and he ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be executed. And because of the king’s decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends,” Daniel 2:12-13.
Unlike the other wise guys, Daniel didn’t freak out. Instead, look at how this godly man handled the situation:
“When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. He asked Arioch, ‘Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?’ So Arioch told him all that had happened. Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant. Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven,” Daniel 2:14-19.
“While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen. And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart,” Daniel 2:29-30, and Daniel wrapped up his conversation with the king with, “… The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain,” Daniel 2:45b.
Just about any other politician — or any person — in Daniel’s shoes would have seen this as a great opportunity for advancement. Being the only person who could not only tell the king his dream, but also its meaning, Daniel could have tried to steal God’s thunder and make himself out to be great.
He didn’t.
Instead, he revealed the glory of God to the king and by doing so God was glorified, and as a result of doing that Daniel was elevated:
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him. The king said to Daniel, ‘Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.’ Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men,” Daniel 2:46-48.
Not only did Daniel put the spotlight on God, he also didn’t forget his friends when he was rewarded:
“At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court,” Daniel 2:49.
Daniel knew his ability to interpret visions and dreams was a gift from God (Dan. 1:17), and understood his “success” came because of God’s lovingkindness toward him (without this gift from God, he would have been as clueless as all the other “wise men”). Because Daniel always gave God the glory, and never tried to steal His thunder, God protected him.
Daniel’s life is an example for us to NOT try to take the good and gifts we receive from God and attempt to pass it off as our own glory. But it’s a temptation many fail at today, making themselves appear to be greater than they are while failing to appropriately put the spotlight on God.
That’s a serious issue.
Throughout scripture we’re clearly warned that God will not share His glory, and we’re repeatedly instructed to give God the glory that He deserves:
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols,” Isaiah 42:8.
“‘Fear God,’ he shouted. ‘Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water,'” Revelation 14:7.
Is it your practice throughout life to repeatedly turn the spotlight on God? Or do you use His blessing, lovingkindness, care, and gifts to make more of yourself than you are?
Scotty
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