Daniel 6:1-5 (ESV)
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
Envy is a bad thing. Especially in the work place. The above story is old in age, but realities fresh in the present. Daniel was a favored worker and was destined to be promoted even higher into the ranks of the Persian emperor. His peers, however, did not want him to succeed and to “rule” over them. Instead of trying to match him on merits, they created a way to sabotage him. They realized his reputation was to firm to corrupt him, so they had to create a law against his most central passions: His relationship with God. You know you are walking with God when your enemies knows the only way they can get an advantage over you is to create a law against your walk with God. Daniel was not the least worried about their attack. Later we learn that Daniel did nothing to change his behavior. It would send him to the lion’s den. Godly character will always increase ungodly envy. Envy attempts to get what others have, not on your own merit, but circumventing the path of merit. Daniel’s Godly character was real and that allowed him to continue his path of obedience and ignore the envy of his peers. The response to envy is continued Godly character despite circumstances.
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