Hearing the Message of Daniel by Christopher J. H. Wright

Author:Christopher J. H. Wright [J. H. Wright, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2017-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

There is another point worth noting here. All Daniel’s ability and integrity had been put at the disposal of this secular, pagan, political authority. His daily work was his opportunity and mode of serving both his government and his God. Apart from his daily prayer, we know nothing about Daniel’s personal or religious life. We don’t know if he was involved in any kind of social or religious good causes. We don’t know if he was a prominent lay leader in his local synagogue. We don’t know if he went around telling Babylonians the “gospel” story of what God had done for Israel and summoning them to believe in the one true God. What we are told is that in his daily secular job he was the very best. Even apart from the rest of the story and its major point, that is worth taking to heart.

It is a very sad thing if Christians have the idea that a secular job is just a means of keeping the body fed and clothed and therefore feel at liberty to invest just enough of their ability and effort to keep the job. Then they reckon they can save their best talents and time for “God’s work.” Such a dichotomy fails to see the whole of life as “God’s work.” By contrast, Paul urged even slaves who were believers to work hard and honestly for their masters—even non-Christian masters—on the basis that in doing so they were in reality serving the Lord Christ.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Col 3:22–24)

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