Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart. —Proverbs 17:3 (NLT)

Life Principle: Before every blessing there’s a testing

The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service…But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. —Daniel 1:5, 8 (NIV)

Qualities God looks for in your life

1. Integrity - He never forgot who he was.

Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God… —Romans 12:2 (GNT)

2. Discipline - He controlled his ego and appetite.

Do not let any part of your bodies become tools of wickedness, to be used for sinning; but give yourselves completely to God…you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes. —Romans 6:13 (TLB)

3. Courage - He was willing to stand alone.

Never follow a crowd in doing wrong. —Exodus 23:2 (GWT)

4. Humility - He was tactful with authority.

He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.” Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others. —Daniel 1:8-16 (NLT)

Discussion Questions

1. Do you know any pushy Christians? What are some of their character traits?

2. When have you noticed these traits in you?

3. Do you know any wishy washy Christians? What are some of their character traits?

4. When have you noticed these traits in you?

5. How important is knowing when to compromise and when not to? What is your guide in your decision?