King Belshazzar was wining and dining in his palace with his nobles using the golden articles taken from the temple in Jerusalem by Nebuchaddnezzar. All of a sudden, he saw an handwriting on the wall but no one could interpret the meaning not even his wise men.

The queen mother told the king about Daniel who had the ability to interpret mysteries. So they sent for him. When he got to the palace, the king said, "...If you can read these words and tell me their meaning, you will be clothed in purple robes of royal honor, and you will have a gold chain placed around your neck. You will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom"( Daniel 5:16 NLT).

Read Daniel's response, "...Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means" (Dan 5:17 NLT). As far as Daniel was concerned, discharging the duties of his ministry was important than the gifts promised by the pagan king.

That could have been an opportunity for Daniel to trade his gift of interpretation for material gift but to him, ministry wasn't about what he could get. More so, that king was a pagan king who was neck deep in idolatry, a sin God hates.

As a preacher, If you're privileged to stand before the Belshazzar, Ahab, Nebuchadnezzar and Sennacherib of this world, the truth is the only thing you owe them and they also owe you their listening ears not gifts. Gift doesn't matter at that time.

Our society keeps decaying because those that should speak truth to power are eyeing gifts from those in power. They hold special prayer meetings and prophesy good to them but don't tell them the truth about their sins and wickedness to humanity.  Those in power are at ease because they have shut the mouth of prophets with gifts. That should not be said of you.

A cleansing has begun.