HONOUR BEGETS HONOUR

“BUT DANIEL PURPOSED IN HIS HEART THAT HE WOULD NOT DEFILE HIMSELF WITH THE PORTION OF THE KING'S DELICACIES, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
Daniel 1:8 (NKJV)

“FAR BE IT FROM ME; FOR THOSE WHO HONOUR ME I WILL HONOUR, AND THOSE WHO DESPISE ME SHALL BE LIGHTLY ESTEEMED.”
1 Samuel 2:30 (NKJV)

When you keep yourself for God without being defiled, it means you honour Him—as a result of such act, God will honour you in return when you made a request from Him.
The foundation of Daniel’s success is holiness, he made the choice not to defile himself!
God will honour you if you did honour Him by keeping yourself chaste and pure—undefiled (Ephesians 4:25-32; 5:1-7; 1 Peter 4:1,2).

11 FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION HAS APPEARED TO ALL MEN,
12 TEACHING US THAT, DENYING UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY IN THIS PRESENT AGE."
Titus 2:11,12 (NKJV)

God works with believers' heart. You cannot deceive Him or outsmart Him:
“NEVERTHELESS THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDS, HAVING THIS SEAL: “THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS,” AND, “LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY" (2 Timothy 2:19 NKJV).
Whatever you do is plain or bare before God. If you keep yourself clean, you will receive the reward, and if you defile yourself, the reward is awaiting you as well. Whatever you sow, you will surely reap:
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; FOR WHATEVER A MAN SOWS, THAT HE WILL ALSO REAP. 8 FOR HE WHO SOWS TO HIS FLESH WILL OF THE FLESH REAP CORRUPTION, BUT HE WHO SOWS TO THE SPIRIT WILL OF THE SPIRIT REAP EVERLASTING LIFE" (Galatians 6:7,8 NKJV).

Note:
To be a vessel of honour in God’s hand, you have to keep yourself pure:
20 BUT IN A GREAT HOUSE THERE ARE NOT ONLY VESSELS OF GOLD AND SILVER, BUT ALSO OF WOOD AND CLAY, SOME FOR HONOUR AND SOME FOR DISHONOUR. 21 THEREFORE IF ANYONE CLEANSES HIMSELF FROM THE LATTER, HE WILL BE A VESSEL FOR HONOUR, SANCTIFIED AND USEFUL FOR THE MASTER, PREPARED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK" (2 Timothy 2:20,21 NKJV).

After Daniel and his friends had graduated from the School of Strategic Studies, they were appointed to serve at the King's palace; they were to work alongside with the wise men of Babylon (Daniel 1:18-21).
Afterwards the king had a dream which he was unable to remember when he woke up, and his spirit was troubled because of the dream (Daniel 2:1).
The king wanted the wise men in his kingdom to tell him the dream and the interpretation, which none of them, of course, could do (Daniel 2:2-11).
Then King Nebuchadnezzar made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be executed, killed, because they were unable to tell him his dream and the interpretation (Daniel 2:12,13).
Daniel sought the face of God that the dream and the interpretation be made known to him, and God granted his requests:
17 THEN DANIEL WENT TO HIS HOUSE, AND MADE THE DECISION KNOWN TO Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, HIS COMPANIONS, 18 THAT THEY MIGHT SEEK MERCIES FROM THE GOD OF HEAVEN CONCERNING THIS SECRET, SO THAT DANIEL AND HIS COMPANIONS MIGHT NOT PERISH WITH THE REST OF THE WISE MEN OF BABYLON. 19 THEN THE SECRET WAS REVEALED TO DANIEL IN A NIGHT VISION. SO DANIEL BLESSED THE GOD OF HEAVEN" (Daniel 2:17-19 NKJV).

Take note of these:
• Daniel had the faith and courage to go before God that the secret might be made known to him: "LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN THE TIME OF NEED" (Hebrews 4:16).
• He was able to do that because his relationship with God was intact and cordial (Hebrews 4:15,16; 10:21-23).
• He had kept himself for God, without being defiled with king's delicacies, food that is contrary to the Jewish dietary laws; through Daniel's act, he did honour God by keeping himself for Him (Daniel 1:8).
• God did honour Daniel back, because he kept himself for Him (1 Samuel 2:30).

The point being emphasized is:
If you live your life for God, you keep yourself for Him without defiling yourself, God will definitely honour you back (1 Samuel 2:30).
When you needed God, His help, at the time of predicament or distress, and you called on Him; He will answer you (Jeremiah 29:12; 33:3).
However, if you dishonoured Him by defiling yourself; when you needed Him and called on Him, He may not answer:
"THEREFORE IT HAPPENED, THAT JUST AS HE [God] PROCLAIMED AND THEY WOULD NOT HEAR, SO THEY CALLED OUT AND I WOULD NOT LISTEN," SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS" (Zechariah 7:13 NKJV).
READ: Proverbs 1:24-28; Zechariah 7:13,14

In conclusion:
• Purpose in your heart, like Daniel did, not to defile yourself with sin (Daniel 1:8).
• Study the Word of God, meditate or ponder on it, and be a doer of it (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; James 1:22-25).
• Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
• God rewards the commitment and faithfulness of His children, thus be committed and faithful in your God-given vision or assignment: "MOREOVER IT IS REQUIRED IN STEWARDS THAT ONE BE FOUND FAITHFUL" (1 Corinthians 4:2).
• Seek to know God’s mind on whatever you want to do (Proverbs 3:5,6).

It is my prayer that you will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!