Image by: seanbjack

Text: Daniel 1:1-21

Introduction

Here are some quotes about Christianity before going for my sermon today.

• Christians are in the world but not of it.
• This earth is not the home of Christians. They are just passing by.

Both of these quotations have only one meaning. God’s children does not belong to this world. But God has  a plan for each one of us and we must live on this earth faithful to Him until He calls us home one day. We are less than perfect people living in a sinful and world. How can we live without compromising while still living in a world who runs after pleasure?

There are 3 principals we can learn from Daniel in relation to this question.

1. Daniel determined not to compromise, v. 3-8

Daniel determined not to compromise and satisfy man. Daniel and his friends were selected to serve in royal courts, and many privileges came along with the appointment that other Jews in captivity didn’t have. One privilege was to receive meals from the Kings table including meat and vine. And the food had two problems according to the Jewish law.

• The meat was taken from unclean animals.
• A portion of meat was offered to the Babylonian idols.
• A portion of vine was poured upon a pagan alter before it was sent to the king.

Daniel and his friends didn’t have to bother about the law. No body was watching them. Probably the other Jewish men enjoyed the royal food. They had a perfect excuse at hand. They could have consume royal food claiming the king has ordered them or they will be put to death. Rather they decided not to defile themselves with the pleasure of eating and drinking from king’s table. They settled for a vegetarian diet and water.

Today we face much challenging situations. Peer pressure is one of them. If you don’t drink with your coworkers you get cornered. You get bullied when you don’t agree with their carnal life style. Christians have to alternatives.

• Give excuses and compromise
• Take heart and stand for what we believe

Jesus said,

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

2. Daniel depended on God, v. 9-16

At first the care taker refused the request of Daniel and his friends to receive a vegetarian meal and water. The Bible describes it this way,

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the royal delicacies or the royal wine. He therefore asked the overseer of the court officials for permission not to defile himself. Then God made the overseer of the court officials sympathetic to Daniel. But he responded to Daniel, “I fear my master the king. He is the one who has decided your food and drink. What would happen if he saw that you looked malnourished in comparison to the other young men your age If that happened, you would endanger my life with the king!” Daniel 1:8-10

At this point Daniel believed that he can depend on God’s grace and took a step of faith.

Daniel then spoke to the warden whom the overseer of the court officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and “Please test your servants for ten days by providing us with some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance45 with that of46 the young men who are eating the royal delicacies; deal with us in light of what you see.” So the warden agreed to their proposal and tested them for ten days.  (Daniel 1:11-14)

And God helped them to keep their commitment for holiness.

At the end of the ten days their appearance was better and their bodies were healthier than all the young men who had been eating the royal delicacies. So the warden removed the delicacies and the wine from their diet and gave them a diet of vegetables instead.  (Daniel 1:15-16)

There are 2 challenges we must overcome once we decide to live a holy life.

Our own temptation to please our carnal desires

Some one joked,

The problem with Romans 12:1 is unlike a dead sacrifice a “living sacrifice” always crawls off the altar.

Becoming a born again Christian cannot change our fallen nature. We will get rid of our fallen nature only on the day we meet with our Saviour face to face. Until then we must depend on the Holy Spirit of God to gain strength to stay away from compromising with the world.

Pressure from the world

As I mentioned earlier, we will face pressure and persecution of the unbeliever each time we decide to live holy and pleasing before God. This exactly what happened to Daniel.

But Daniel depended on God. And God gave him grace and favor in the eyes of the king’s official. He will help us in the same way, if we depend on God and take step of faith.

3. God rewarded Daniel and his friends for their commitment, v. 17

Now as for these four young men, God endowed them with knowledge and skill in all sorts of literature and wisdom – and Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.

God definitely rewarded Daniel and his three friends for their commitment. The wisdom and the skill God endowed upon them was far greater than the temporary pleasure the king’s food could offer them.

Christians should never settle for the second best they can find through the pleasures of this world. If they do they miss God’s blessing. Obedience and holiness is they key to heavenly blessings.

Conclusion

Daniel and his friends are men of history. They are long dead, but still alive in the hearts of God fearing men and women. I don’t think they would be remembered if they compromised. There were other Jewish young men who were placed in the same rank of Daniel. They enjoyed the temporary pleasure of royal food, and God never exalted them. What is your decision today. Would you settle for cheap things or the best from God.