Deeper ReflectionIt was
not by choice that Daniel was living in Babylon and serving
the Babylonian king (Dan 1). He was
captured by the enemies of his
nation in a war, and
compelled to be where he was and doing what
he was doing now. His social status in Babylon was always “an exile
from Judah” (Dan 2:25; 5:13; 6:13). But Daniel walked with God faithfully
(Dan 1:8). That was central and fundamental in Daniel’s life.When we walk with God faithfully, we are walking in alignment with
God’s purpose for our lives. It means God is fulfilling His purpose and
we are fulfilling God’s purpose. Thus, for Daniel, his
circumstances
constituted God’s
calling for his life. In serving the Babylonian king,
Daniel viewed himself
first as a servant of God. For Daniel, serving
the king was actually a means of serving God who had appointed the
king. When Christian employees (“slaves”) serve their employers
(“masters”), they are to recognise that “It is the Lord Christ whom you
serve” (Col 3:22-24). And Christian masters (employers) are servants of
their Master in heaven (Eph 6:9).Daniel served Nebuchadnezzar with
commitment. When
Nebuchadnezzar called “all the wise men of Babylon” to interpret
his dream, Daniel was left out, even though he alone was up to the
task (vv.6-8). Daniel did not have a FOMO33 feeling, because he was
first a servant of God, and he recognised the sovereignty of God over
being included or excluded. When Daniel was finally consulted by
Nebuchadnezzar, and his unique competency was acknowledged, there
wasn’t any sense of prideful self-importance or indispensability in him.
32 Romans 1:1
33 Fear Of Missing Out
