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Lions' Den Survival Principles 24-Part Series]

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Lions' Den Survival Principles PART 6 of 24

Establishing the Fact That You Can’t Be “Bought”

"Then Daniel answered the king, 'You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.'"
—Daniel 5:17 (NIV)

Talk about an opportunity to cash in! Here was the chance of a lifetime. The panicked king Belshazzar, still quaking from the terror of watching a divine hand write mysterious words on the wall of his banquet hall, is willing to give away the company store. He had just made his first offer, "If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."

A typical negotiating response would have been, "how about throwing in an additional robe and a bracelet?" or "can we talk about that second highest slot?" Belshazzar must have been blown away by Daniel's response. In one sentence Daniel passes on all the prizes behind door "B."

It's clear that Daniel, now an octogenarian, has learned Survival Principle 11: Make it clear that when it comes to doing what's right you can't be bought.

I watched a Hollywood TV director turn down a series, at least a year's work, because the producers would not commit to avoiding Christ-bashing in their content. I observed a music composer turn down the scoring of a film because it was an exploitation one. Godly actors turn down parts. A film producer turned down the chance of instant wealth and the status of heading a major division of Spielberg's new company, Dreamworks SKG. A writing team turned down a lucrative project because it glorified the occult. A TV producer passed on a network series unless the content dealing with spiritual things could be changed.

In each case above the people on the other side were dazzled that (a) any one would turn down lucrative work and (b) that anyone had the kind of moral non-negotiables that transcended financial gain and personal status. One national survey indicated that 17% of Americans would murder someone if the dollar price were high enough and they were assured of not being caught. Wouldn't you like to know what percentage of Christians in the media will turn down work to obey the Master?

Here is the point. If your spiritual integrity can be bought at any price the numbers are meaningless, and Satan will always make sure somebody is in the bidding. If it can't be bought at any price, it's a waste of his time to try, because you are obviously operating on a different economic system!

Daniel made an additional point with his "pass" on Belshazzar's goodies. He didn't even care if someone else got the stuff offered to him! "Give your rewards to someone else," he said. Some of us find it easier to say "no" to an offer if it isn't given to somebody else. The true man or woman of God can't be bought even if the second in line may get the benefit and rub it in.

Survival Principle 12: What is done with the price offered for our integrity after we turn it down is God's business. In any case, He'll find a way to replace and multiply our reward for faithfulness.

Live by this!

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© 2000-2004 Larry W. Poland, Ph.D., Mastermedia International, Inc.