Choose Faithfulness to God
Every day we are faced with choices. Choices about what about how we will act in situations, how we will respond to others, etc. We also face daily decisions about what we consume (physically, mentally and spiritually). In Daniel 1:8–17 and 1 Timothy 4:7–8, both Daniel and Timothy are faced with choices about their consumption. In one case, it’s consumption of food. In the other it’s consumption of thoughts. For both of them, the right choice is to remain faithful to God. I pray that you will choose faithfulness to God and that you will allow Him to guide you in the choices you make daily. Amen
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. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. (Daniel 1:8–14)
Daniel was among the young men and others who were taken into captivity in Babylon when Jerusalem was invaded by Nebuchadnezzar’s military forces. Nebuchadnezzar selected the brightest young men among his captives, for training to serve in his kingdom. Part of their training involved eating the royal food provided for them. But the royal food was at odds with Jewish dietary laws, and thus, Daniel resolved not to “defile” himself by eating it. So Daniel appealed to the guard assigned to he and some of the other young men (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah). His request was that they be allowed to eat vegetables and drink water instead of eating the royal food and drinking the wine being served. He proposed a 10 day testing period for this alternative. After that, their health could be evaluated against those consuming the royal food and wine.
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. (Daniel 1:15–17)
At the end of the 10 day test period, Daniel and the other three young men looked healthier and better nourished than those consuming the royal provisions. As a result, they were allowed to continue to avoid the royal food and wine, and instead, consume vegetables and water. More importantly, because of their devotion and faithfulness, God blessed them with vast knowledge and understanding. And to Daniel, God gave the added ability to understand all kinds of dreams and visions.
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:7–8)
Paul told Timothy that he was to focus on spreading the gospel, not myths or old wives tales. The latter had little value. He was to train himself to be godly, because that was the training that mattered most. While physical training could benefit him a to a degree and for a time, the spiritual training of his mind would benefit him and be of value in all things and for eternity.
Conclusion
Both Daniel and Timothy are examples of faithfulness to God. Daniel served in exile, in the kings court as a key advisor. Timothy served God by leading churches and sharing the gospel. Each sought to be faithful to God’s calling on their lives and not be derailed by other influences that could damage their service to God. Watching what we consume physically, mentally and spiritually is important in our efforts to walk faithfully with God and not become impaired in our service to Him. What does God want to use you to do? Can He count on you to serve Him in faithfulness and avoid distractions that would diminish your service to God’s kingdom? As we make choices in our lives, let our desire to be faithful to God be our guiding principle.
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
A faithful person will be richly blessed. ~ Prov. 28:20
