ICS Daily Devotions
Promotion Comes from the Lord
Daniel 1:3-5, 8 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king… But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore, he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
When Jerusalem was besieged by Babylon, Daniel and his three friends were chosen to serve in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace. Despite being in captivity, one might view that as a promotion for Daniel. Pride could have easily gone to his head for a young person who was selected based on the criteria of being handsome, without bodily defect, knowledgeable and smart.
Do we sometimes let pride go to our head too when we get promoted? Let’s ask ourselves: “Do we believe that it is the Lord who caused us to be promoted or do well in our business?”, “Do all good and perfect gifts come from the Lord?”. Our answers to these questions will be revealed in our behaviour and our words. Pride will eventually cause everything to crumble around us, and nobody including our spouse will be able to speak into our lives when we are proud.
Psalm 75:6-7 For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.
Truly, God knew the heart of Daniel and He was the one who promoted him. Daniel would eventually be given a top level government job with a strategic position. God had a plan for Daniel while serving in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court, including the kings after him. As a believer, we need to be humble enough to know that promotion comes from the Lord, and pride always goes before destruction.
Proverb 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Sermon Series: The Daniels of Today
