Mid-Week Inspiration: Wednesday, August 14, 2022
If I asked, “Do you consider yourself a loyal person” most of us would answer in the affirmative. Who wants to be considered disloyal? We regard ourselves as loyal, and yet the world is filled with disloyalty.
Friends are betraying friends. Politicians are ignoring commitments. Spouses are cheating on one another. Employees are stealing from employers. Secrets that were told in confidence are being said behind backs. If we consider ourselves loyal people, who is commiting all these disloyal acts? Asking if we are loyal or disloyal is asking the wrong question. The question is, who or what are we giving our loyalty to?
In the Hebrew Bible, the book of Daniel, the main character is asked to be disloyal to God. Some leaders in Babylon were jealous of the success that Daniel, the Jewish exile, was having with king Darius. So they convince the king to sign a decree into law that states any person who prays to anyone besides the king should be thrown into a den of lions. The scripture says, “Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open toward Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously” (Daniel 6:10). The conspirators see Daniel praying, remind the king of his law and that it could not be broken. So they have Daniel thrown into the lion’s den. The next day, the king runs down to the lion’s den to see if Daniel has become an appetizer. He calls out, and Daniel replies, “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong” (Daniel 6:22). Daniel remained loyal to God even at the threat of his own life. In response to being saved from the mouth of the lion, Daniel responds that he has done no wrong, not even before the king. And yet, he did. He broke the law of the king.
Loyalty is not blind. We are not being loyal to our friends when we go along with their plan to hurt others or themselves. We should always strive to be loyal but never to the point where we would be held accountable for someone else’s actions. Loyalty is not being an accomplice to a crime. However, it is disloyal for us not to guide our friends away from the hurt they intend to cause themselves or other people.
Jamey
Mid-Week Opportunity
Gainesville First’s Foster Care Ministry is partnering with other organizations in the area to assist families with intervention before foster care to come alongside and support foster families with immediate needs. If you would like to be part of being the hands and feet of Jesus and supporting the physical needs of at-risk children in our community, contact Misty Leach at mleach@gfumc.com to be included on the Care Portal email list.