1:8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's rich food, or with the wine which he drank; therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. She decided to change churches because she didn't get the approval she was looking for, even though the decision she had made went directly against Scripture. He hopped from church to church looking for one that had girls in it that he could develop a relationship with, rather than serving God where he was, trusting that God knew how to send the right girl across his path when His time was perfect. It's not easy to do the right thing. It's not easy to trust God. At least that's what we say when we want to convince ourselves that we are justified in disobeying or doubting. We are only human after all, aren't we? Well Daniel was as human as anyone else, but he determined to do what was right even though, humanly speaking, all the odds were against him. Unlike the two people cited above, he believed that in obeying God, He would be honoured by God. Daniel believed that if he trusted God, he would not be disappointed. He was right. God honoured him and he was not disappointed. Refusing the rich food took Daniel to the head of his class and brought him to the attention of the king. Suitably impressed by both the faith and the results of that faith, the king advanced Daniel to the highest position in the land. When his enemies looked for a way to accuse Daniel, they could find none. Even fame, fortune and position could not corrupt a man who had proven God as a boy, who continued to trust and obey even though he was in the minority and even though it was risky. God never fails. He can be trusted, and obeying Him even when it is hard, never results in loss for us. The old hymn says it correctly: "Trust and obey/For there is no other way/To be happy in Jesus/But to trust and obey"* 6:3 6:2and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 6:4 6:3Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 6:5 6:4Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom; but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. *TRUST AND OBEY, John H. Sammis and Daniel B. Towner |