|
The example of Daniel
Daniel 1:8-20, 6:3-23
"The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service... But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way."
(Daniel 1:5,8)
Just a teenager when he was brought into the service of the king, Daniel already showed a commitment to principles. Resolve is a strong word that means to be devoted to principle and to be committed to a course of action. Though the Bible doesn't specify how this resolve was established, he and his friends may well have agreed to a set of written behavioral standards. In any case, it is known that they agreed to a common set of standards which involves transparency and accountability.
When Daniel resolved not to defile himself, he was being true to a lifelong determination to do what was right and not to give in to the pressures around him. The king's food would have been offered to idols and would certainly not be kosher! Daniel would have felt revulsion at the thought of eating it. He asked for permission to eat just vegetables instead, and ultimately became visibly healthier than those eating all the high-fat royal goodies.
We too are often invited to compromise our standards and live more like the world around us. Like Daniel, we must resolve to obey God. It is easier to resist temptation if you've thought about your convictions before the temptation arrives. We will get into trouble if we have not previously decided where to draw the line. Before such situations arise, decide on your commitments. Then when temptation comes, you'll be ready to say "no."
"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."
(Daniel 6:10)
In chapter 6, Daniel again stands by his principles. His ethical conduct had attracted the attention of his coworkers, who probably felt that he was showing them up. So they schemed to trap him. They talked the egocentric king into issuing a decree that anyone who prays to God would be thrown to the lion's den.
The Bible says that "when he learned that the decree had been published, he went home and prayed"--publicly! One of his principles was to pray three times every day, regardless of circumstances. He could have chosen to pray secretly. After all, it was only a 30-day limitation. If a similar law were enacted today, how many Christians would justify softening their prayer life on the grounds that they would be breaking the law? How many, when in a public place, compromise their standards and pray in secret, lest they offend someone? In restaurants we often pray invisible prayers to avoid being seen, and we justify our actions with Matthew 6:6.
Daniel, on the other hand, realized that his own witness was being tested here. Hiding would have shown that he was afraid of the officials; that his God was less important than their law. In contrast, he ensured that everyone knew that he put his relationship with God ahead of the law, even if it would cost him his life.
|
