Promotion Comes From God
ICS Daily Devotions
Daniel 2:46-48 (NKJV) Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
Have you ever found yourself striving and engaging in company politics in order to advance your career? Pursuing that promotion often comes at the expense of strained relationships, a broken family, and, sadly, a tarnished reputation for the Lord. It is easy to become so consumed by pursuing the promotion that we compromise our values and principles, sacrificing our time with God, and in doing so, becoming unrecognisable as the person we once were. There is a better way of being promoted that keeps us grounded, blessed, rested, and satisfied in our souls, and it is God’s kind of promotion.
It must have been a highly toxic environment to work for someone like King Nebuchadnezzar, who was known to be a tyrant, but Daniel did an excellent job with God’s help. It was not easy for Daniel to reject the king’s mandate, being a foreigner. He needed as much favour as possible without compromising with the local culture and values. Although there was no lack of delicacies and expensive wine presented to Daniel, he rejected the opportunity to upgrade his lifestyle and status because he wanted to comply with the Jewish law as an expression of worship and love for God. To honour God by not defiling himself, he needed to abstain from certain foods which were deemed as unclean under the Jewish law, and food that had been offered to idols. Through his actions, he made a stand against idolatry and pledged his allegiance to God.
It is every young person’s dream to become an advisor to the king. In today’s terms, that means being the president’s adviser on economic, social, and foreign affairs. If Daniel had not been a godly man who was firmly grounded in where God had placed him, he would not have allowed any opportunity through which the chief of eunuchs could disqualify him. Some people would pay any price just to be among the influential figures of the world. However, being able to whisper to the king’s ear is a double-edged sword because one could suffer or die for giving bad advice or failing to advise. Daniel has chosen to succeed in only one way—God’s way.
Daniel was an extraordinary man of God who chose to set himself apart to honour God. We can safely say that Daniel loved and prioritised God in his life. He made up his mind and purposed in his heart that he would not compromise on what was required of him as a Jew. Daniel remained faithful to God rather than seeking to please King Nebuchadnezzar.
Sermon Series：Promotion Comes From God
