When Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, the Jewish nobility’s youths were taken captive and conscripted into his service in Babylon. Far from home, these young people were given the opportunity to reclaim their status and find secular success as members of their new king’s court. This meant eating food that was unclean according to the Law of Moses; but given the circumstances, that was a minor detail, right?
“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank” (Daniel 1:8). While the other youths accepted without objection, Daniel and his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (more commonly known today by their Babylonian names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) risked standing apart to prioritize God. After a brief trial period they secured from their chief, Daniel and his friends looked better and were healthier than those who ate the king’s portion. This led the chief to accommodate their diet, a triumph that reminds us to put God first on the job. Yet, that is not the end of the story.
Through their reliance on God, these four faithful youths excelled beyond their more accommodating peers. While they all were attractive young royals with similar education and skills, Daniel and friends surpassed them. King Nebuchadnezzar even found them to be “ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom” (Daniel 1:20). Across a world empire, no one compared to these four, and the only distinguishing factor was their uncompromising, all-encompassing faith.
Let that sink in. Like Daniel, we may feel pressured by the world to do things its way. When we compartmentalize our lives into “work life” and “spiritual life,” it can become easy to rationalize small compromises against God’s way to pursue an opportunity. Yet, we need to resolve to put our faith in God first. This means trusting like Daniel did that God’s way is always best, even and especially when it goes against the norm. When that is true, we will not be successful and faithful: we will be successful because we are faithful.
Ready to work with God everyday? Check out our sermon series “Don’t Quit Your Day Job: Glorifying God from 9 to 5”!