Sermon – Striving for Excellence Means Picking Godly Friends
Scripture Lessons - Daniel 1:6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Daniel picked godly friends who were willing to stand with him. They stood with him in his decision not to eat the king’s meat.
Daniel 1:17-21 “God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. 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 2:17-19 “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.”
Introduction: Good friends relieve stress, provide comfort, and joy, and prevent loneliness and isolation. Developing the right close friendships can also have a powerful impact on your mental, physical, and emotional health. It has been said the lack of social connection may pose as much of a risk as smoking, drinking too much, or leading an inactive lifestyle. We often think that self-control comes from within, yet many of our actions depend just as much on our friends and family as ourselves. Those we surround ourselves with have the power to make us better or worse. Daniel knew how to pick godly friends. Of the thousands of Jewish men carried into Babylon, of the hundred selected for their beauty and their wisdom, Daniel selected three to be his closest friends.
For many people, social connections and loneliness have been a topic of renewed attention due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of social distancing guidelines has severely impacted our ability to get together and interact. In turn, making it difficult to maintain existing friendships and create new ones. This drastic shift has intensified the loneliness epidemic in the US. Some experts blame shrinking family sizes and the fact that more adults live alone. And, as it turns out, this is a problem that can have serious consequences. Yet the difficulty faced by Daniel and the people of Judah and Jerusalem far surpassed what we experience today.
Daniel realized the power of association. Who we choose to spend time with really matters because the people around you affect your happiness and success. This is known as the power of association and Daniel learns how to use it for their mutual benefit. Daniel picked godly friends who gave him moral support. The first sign of trouble Daniel would confide in these friends. They had successfully reframed from defiling their bodies with the king’s meat; they had been promoted to top position because of their wisdom and insight; now another problem arises that threatens their lives.
If you remember, the king had a dream that troubled him, and he requested an interpretation from his wise men. The priests and wise men told the king they could not interpret his dream if he would not tell them what it was. They said no man could do that. The king was angry and said he would kill all the wise men in the kingdom, including Daniel and his friends. In Daniel 2:17 it states, “Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:” They decided to ask the king for some additional time, and they would reveal the dream and its meaning. After three days, God revealed the dream and its meaning, and the king spared their lives and promoted Daniel again. In Daniel 2: 48-49, states, “Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.”
Some people never achieve excellence because they hang with the wrong crowd, choose the wrong friends, or follow the wrong influencers. If you are looking to make any positive change in your life, you will need to change your association. For example, if you are seeking a new career path or starting a new business venture you should associate with successful and knowledgeable people in that field. It is the same concept for elite athletes. Motivational speaker Jim Rohn says, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”. Your association influences you at a conscious and subconscious level including your thoughts, beliefs, and behavior. Striving for excellence means picking the right friends, valuable friends and associates who help us stay the course even in a strange environment. Mocking the Jewish victims who were carried into Babylon, their powerful captors requested a song. “For there our captors asked us for songs … 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion'” (Psalm 137:3). When most were sayings, “How could we sing the Lord's song in a strange land.” (Psalm 137:4) The Jews had allowed depression and misery to steal their song and deplete their joy. They had no one to support them or to hold them accountable. Daniel and his friends kept praying and kept singing. If we are going to live above compromise in a changing society and walk worthy of the vocation, we are called to, we must choose our friends wisely.
1. Godly friends hold us accountable. Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”
Every one of us can think of somebody who was a strong believer once, but who fell into some kind of sin. Perhaps they fell into sexual immorality or maybe they fell into unorthodox beliefs. Regardless of specifics, they fell away from the faith. Many times, the reason people wander away from the faith is they have no one to whom they are accountable.
I think that was the tragedy of Solomon. Think about it, when Solomon was a teenager, he gave his life completely to God. He was wholly devoted to the Lord. He wanted to please God with his whole heart. But over a period of years, his wealth, power, and sensual pleasure caused his heart to grow cold toward God. And the Bible says in 1 Kings 11:4: “For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away from God to other gods and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord, his God.” You see the problem was, since Solomon was up on the pedestal, on the throne, no one had the courage to tell Solomon the truth about himself. He had no one to hold him accountable. Friendships offer us accountability when we are prone to wander. Daniel sits as the chief of staff in Babylon, with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as chief of operations over the affairs of the province of Babylon and they held each other accountable. Do you have anyone who holds you accountable? Do you have anyone who pushes you forward? Do you have anyone who celebrates your successes? Do you have anyone who prays with you and counsels you during your trials? Godly friends hold us accountable.
2. Godly friends pray with us and for us. Daniel 2:18-20 “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. He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power.”
We all need friends who hold us accountable and who will pray for us and with us. Prayer is an excellent way to get closer to God. This one might seem obvious, but prayer is an excellent way of getting closer to God. Prayer reduces anxiety and helps us experience calm. Prayer allows us to express our gratitude, increase gratitude and thankfulness. It also shifts our focus to others. Prayer allows us to hear from God as he response and at times bring about needed miracles. Prayer fortifies us with strength to put off temptation and stand firm. Men are encouraged to always pray, but the Bible provides three clear reasons why praying together matters:
a) Praying together unifies us with other believers. We see examples of this throughout Scripture. Some of the most prominent ones are recorded in the book of Acts. The apostles placed tremendous importance on praying together, from the 120 believers who prayed together on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:13, 2:1) to Paul and Silas’ prayers that resulted in their jailer’s conversion (Acts 16:25). Look what God accomplished through the corporate prayers of His people!
When we pray with others, we surrender our “me”-centered thoughts and instead focus on the requests we’re bringing to the throne together. We leave behind our individual agendas in the light of God’s will. As a result, we’re drawn to each other. We have the ability to be vulnerable, to open ourselves to accountability, and to grow in grace and mercy toward each other.
b) Praying together connects us with the purposes of Christ. The Apostle John writes: “And this is the confidence we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15) This happens in our personal prayer times and as we pray with others. The Holy Spirit directs our thoughts and prayers and intercedes for us.
c) Praying together demonstrates our unity as believers and proclaims Christ to the world. This unity is how the world can come to know Christ and His love. And this unity is what Jesus prayed for in the final hours of His life: “’The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.’” John 17:22-23)
Godly friends hold us accountable, pray for us and with us, and godly friends work to strengthen us and promote us.
3. Godly friends work to strengthen us and promote us. Daniel 2:48-49, “Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.”
This is an amazing turn of events, from the threat of death to promotion and exaltation. Some believe the king had this strange dream, so God could provide a door of blessing for His people. Daniel was not desiring promotion or special gifts; he was just being his best. The promotion of the Prophet Daniel meant he would have gifts and honor to share. He could bless his friends and might relieve his poor brethren, who were grievously oppressed in this their captivity. So Daniel received all that the king willingly gave Him. Then Daniel requested a promotion for his godly friends. He did not do this for their personal profit, but that the whole nation of Babylon might benefit. Promotion comes from God, but through the hands of men. Daniel lived his life with purpose, according to godly principles, maintaining his moral purity, and maintaining a vibrant prayer life. Daniel was able to excel in life because he knew how to pick godly friends. He knew godly friends will hold him accountable; Godly friends would pray for him and with him, Godly friends would strengthen him and promote him, finally Daniel knew that the life and witness of the godly should point others to God.
4. Daniel’s Life and Witness Pointed others to God. Daniel 2:19-23 “Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.”
Daniel 2:30 “But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.”
Daniel 2:46-47 “Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.”
When some people arrive, they forget about everyone else. Daniel prayed facing Jerusalem in public view because of his commitment to God and his concern for others. Then when God answered his prayer, he testified that his revelations were from God alone. God alone deserves the honor and glory, for by his wisdom and might, God hast made known the thing we desired of Him. Then Daniel confessed, “But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living. God has generously made known the interpretation to the king’s dream and the thoughts of the king’s heart.
This revelation caused everyone to praise God because Daniel pointed the attention to God. The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.”
Our life and witness should point people to God, not to ourselves. Daniel took no credit for himself, he gave all glory to God. When the glory of God is demonstrated, we should point people to God. We are his witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, in Samaria and even in the utmost parts of the world. We should fear the Lord that others might fear Him. For he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. Our God deliverers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth. Just as he did it before, He can do it again. If you are going to be persons of excellence, let’s be people of purpose, living by godly principles, living in moral purity, be people of prayer who know how to pick Godly friends who hold us accountable, who pray for us and with us, who strengthen us and promote us. Finally, let’s be people who point others to Jesus Christ! Jesus gave the Church its marching orders in Matthew 28:18-20 which states,
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Because he is with us, we must strive to walk worthy of our calling. We are his witnesses everywhere we find ourselves. We are free to conform and compromise or we are free to standfast in the liberty of Christ. Let’s strive for excellence and declare with Joshua of old, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. We will sing the Lord’s song even in a strange land. Amen.
