Daniel 1: 8-16
Daniel made up his mind to not let himself become ritually unclean by eating the food and drinking the wine of the royal court, so he asked Ashpenaz to help him, and God made Ashpenaz sympathetic to Daniel.
Ashpenaz, however, was afraid of the king, so he said to Daniel, "The king has decided what you are to eat and drink, and if you don't look as fit as the other young men, he'll have my head."
So Daniel went to Melzar, the guard whom Ashpenaz had placed in charge of him and his three friends. "Test us for ten days," he said. "Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare us with the young men who are eating the food of the royal court, and base your decision on how we look."
He agreed to let them do it for ten days. When the time was up, they looked healthier and stronger than all those who had been eating the royal food. So from then on the guard let them continue to eat vegetables instead of what the king provided.
What do you think would have happened if Daniel had simply refused to eat the food that wasn't Kosher?
Daniel was wiser than that. He negotiated, and was willing to abide by whatever decision the guard made concerning the food.
I can imagine how fresh and vibrant these four looked after their ten-day cleanse! I think it was the best idea Daniel could have come up with, so I would contend that God put him up to it.
There's a lot to learn from here, about getting along with a boss. Don't make demands. Be willing to compromise on what is not essential. Be open to take a chance that things might not go your way, without complaint.
Daniel was willing to go along with whatever decision Melzar made, even if it meant they may have to eat "unclean" foods.
But God was looking out for them. And because Daniel was honest and open with God as well as with his new boss, God caused their attitudes to be favorable toward him and his friends.
Daniel's attitude toward those in authority over him, even though they were Pagan unbelievers, gives us a lot to learn about getting along and doing well in our societies that are hostile to our faith.
It's never to our advantage to aggravate those around us, giving off a holier-than-thou attitude. And we need to be careful that if someone is offended by our witnessing to them, that it's not our attitude of "I know the Truth and you don't," but is a genuine "offense of the Cross."
Daniel maintained his high government position under several different kings, when changing administrations usually meant changing personnel. He hung on as a valuable employee. Because God was with him. Because he was really serving God, not these human bosses.
I want to always be serving my Lord in whatever position I find myself in. To serve my employers honestly and transparently, promoting their welfare and prosperity above my own, displaying Christ's sterling character.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
