Deeper Reflection
It 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.

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³² Romans 1:1 ³³ Fear Of Missing Out