Having attended Christian mission schools from primary school to JC, I would say that there was never a lack of Christians around me. More than half my friends were Christians.

This all changed when I stepped into university last year. Instead, the new norm became clubbing as a post-orientation activity, pre-drinking socials or farming connections through LinkedIn in the name of “networking”.

To say the least, I felt confronted by a highly secular and hyper-competitive society, which almost felt “anti-Christian” sometimes. 

Perhaps you relate to this. Whether it’s school, National Service, the workplace or even your family – it can be hard doing life in an environment which feels so far from Jesus. 

In the Bible, Daniel was someone who was put in a position just like this. And so, who better to learn from than him? 

But first, who’s Daniel?

Daniel was an Israelite taken into exile following Babylon’s first attack on Jerusalem. He was made to serve the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar II.

As a Jewish exile amongst his Babylonian conquerors, Daniel stood out as the minority. But Daniel also stood out for his life’s excellence and faithfulness to live out his convictions – even when threatened with death.

Here are some lessons we can learn from Daniel and his excellent spirit, which may help us point people to Jesus too!

1. Decide early on that you will not compromise

As he was one of those training to enter the king’s service, Daniel would have to eat the royal food. Doing so would mean defiling himself, as he would have violated the Jewish food laws found in the Torah.

While it would have been far easier for Daniel to blend in by going along with what was ordered, he stayed firm to his faith and decided he would not eat food that would defile him. Doing so risked incurring the wrath of King Nebuchadnezzar and moreover, separated from his family and faith, Daniel didn’t actually have to be accountable to anyone but himself.

To be honest, if it were me… I would probably just think that it’s “not that deep” and brush it off by thinking that God would surely understand. So how did Daniel manage to stay faithful in the small things, even though it could cost him his life? 

Daniel “purposed in his heart” beforehand not to defile himself with Babylon’s delicacies and wine (Daniel 1:8).

He knew that he would be placed in situations where he would be tested. The food would be undeniably appealing; the risk of not eating it would be great; even the other Hebrew youths could not be counted on to stand with him in not eating the food.

That said, Daniel’s faithfulness was not a result of his own ironclad will. Rather, it was God who strengthened him, as Daniel consistently prayed and gave thanks to God in every circumstance (Daniel 6:10).

We can learn from Daniel by determining our values, priorities and boundaries ahead of time while asking God for the strength to live it out.

This way, when pressure or temptation come, we will be better positioned to live in a way that is set apart for God, just like Daniel was. 

2. Be someone who’s considerate and carefully considers things

Not just an honourable man, Daniel was courteous and consistent to everyone he met. 

Instead of kicking up a big fuss and rushing to boycott the royal food, Daniel courteously asked the chief official for permission not to eat it. In this way, he took a stand for God without being obnoxious.

Daniel also carefully considers, responding rather than reacting.

For instance, though he and his friends were sentenced to death along with Babylon’s wise men because the king was angry that no one could interpret his dream (Daniel 2), Daniel spoke to his would-be executioner with “wisdom and tact” (Daniel 2:14).

Daniel then wisely inquired about the basis of this harsh decree, before petitioning the king for time to interpret the dream. Immediately after, he organised his friends to pray for God to reveal the meaning of the dream – and God showed up!

It is almost inconceivable how one can exhibit such calmness and wisdom in handling such a situation instead of panicking. Daniel’s wisdom and tact made him stand out, and I believe it also inspired those around him. 

Are we inspiring those around us with the way we live?

While the people around us may not go to church or even want to visit one, we as living letters of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:3) can bring the church to them.

You may not realise it, but people are observing the way you live out your faith. It shows in ways like how you invest your time, the way you work hard when no one is looking, or the way you avoid gossiping about others.

Live a Kingdom kind of life that makes people curious about why you would act so differently. Doing so would give you the opportunity to share about the Jesus we love and serve. 

3. Give God the glory in our lives

While Daniel excelled in smarts, looks and his training (Daniel 1:4), what he excelled best in was giving God the glory. 

While explaining the king’s dream to him, Daniel was quick to declare that the way he received this knowledge was not by human means but by God who had revealed this mystery to him (Daniel 2:27-28).

Because Daniel gave glory to God, rather than taking the credit for himself, this allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to recognise that it was God who truly deserved his praise and worship. King Nebuchadnezzar ends up joining in to praise God later on (Daniel 2:47).  

As for us, are we praising God and giving God the glory He’s due in our lives? After all, this could unknowingly sow the seed for others to hear about God’s goodness, and one day, hopefully praise Him as well. 

We have God’s backing

At the end of the day, I realised I should stop griping about being the only Christian in the places I’m put in.

While it can be comfortable hanging around like-minded believers, God also calls us to more – to be His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) and to share about His finished work wherever we are. 

However, there’s also good news – we’re not in this alone. Just as earthly ambassadors are provided with the resources of their home country, we are likewise equipped with God’s infinite provision, helping us to walk out our faith with excellence, like Daniel.

We may sometimes feel like the only Christian in the room, but when we choose God’s way, we can be sure that He never short-changes those who trust Him!