Daniel, in true OT prophetic form, does not hold back from telling Nebuchadnezzar that if he does not correct his behavior, he is in trouble. Daniel calls Nebuchadnezzar to repentance and humility. But Daniel doesn't speak this truth into the king’s life if chapter 1-3 don't happen. Daniel, by remaining faithful to God, has risen to such prominence that he is on friendly terms with the king of the most powerful empire on earth. Daniel did everything one shouldn't do if one wants to gain power and prestige, but Daniel is not working the in the world’s social economy but in the King of King’s…and that makes all the difference.

A statue of a man’s ego...a symbol of decadence and self-entitlement. Hero worship...literally. King Nebuchadnezzar built a statue in a flat plain with command that all in the kingdom must bow down. Once again, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faced with a major decision: bow to culture or stand for the living God. Once again, standing for life meant almost certain death. The fiery result was the the human king was rendered impotent and the living God was glorified.

King Nebuchadnezzar had a bad dream and it needed interpretation. The problem was no one could explain the dream. The angry king rashly decided to kill all the wise men in the land and Daniel and friends were part of that crowd. Instead of relying on his own power, Daniel petitioned and asked his friends to petition to God on his behalf. He was rewarded with the interpretation of the king’s dream, and Daniel and company were further elevated in the land. Why? Because they relied first and solely on the power of God.

Foreign land, names changed, families murdered (in all likelihood) and in the conquering king’s palace. That is a recipe for capitulation to culture. Daniel and company were out of their element and being forced to accept the culture of the conquering Babylonians. In the face of overwhelming pressure, Daniel and his companions stood tall and refused the ungodly culture of the Babylonians. The consequences were immediate, Daniel and his friends grew in stature and wisdom. The practical application is that we as Christians have to stand up and refuse the ungodly parts of culture that are pressuring us to succumb.

Today we conclude our series with the fourth and final Pillar of Community - Gratitude. Gratitude is the appropriate response to having been given a gift. Healthy, growing communities share- they give and receive- with open hearts and open hands. They appreciate one another and they always let the gift deepen the value of the relationship.

Self entitlement...what a vicious killer! Living like the world owes you something brings nothing but deceit, disrespect, and a devaluing of everyone and everything you encounter. Does entitlement damage your decision-making? Like King David, perhaps it’s time for you to change direction and make the right choice.

Our third Pillar of Community is: Truth-Telling. Being truthful with one another is the basis for genuine relationships to exist and for deep trust to be built. It is in this environment where Christian community can grow and flourish, and it is best cultivated when we speak the truth in the context of genuine love for one another.

Infidelity and dishonesty, partners in an insidious plan, stroll throughout our culture in search of community. They seek not to discover it but to destroy it. How are we to recognize their presence and overcome their advances? By understanding the qualities and characteristics of a covenant. It’s what healthy communities do!

We live in a culture that does not place a high value on fidelity. Over 50% of marriages end in divorce and promises to children are broken. We see high turnover in the workplace as most people will change jobs 7-10 times after the age of 21. Add to that a general culture of consumerism where people like to keep their options open and maximize their choices. Not all these choices are harmful, but when promises are made, then broken, trust is damaged and people feel betrayed. Today we will look at how to recover from broken promises.