Daniel 1:1-16

The title of my message this morning is “the foundation for witness.”  We begin to look at some traits and characteristics that will help us be more effective in witnessing.  These traits will really help us to be more effective as people in all areas of our lives, but I do want to put a special emphasis on how it relates to our ability to share the good news about Jesus Christ.

The foundation for our witness, the underpinnings of our life are the raw materials that God has given to us. 

Certain things in my life I have had no control over.  I had no control over the family into which I was born.  I have no control over my skin color or the country of origin.  I have no control over my height.  I have no control over my intelligence quota.  At my best there are limits as to how smart any of us will be.  I have no control over most of the circumstances in my life; I have no control over the color of my eyes.  I had no control over where I would go to elementary or high school.  I had no control over the menu of subjects that would be offered to me. 

What I have is what God has given me.  What you have is what God has given you.  These raw materials, these unchangeable attributes and circumstances become the foundation for your life.

What is amazing about God is that the very things the world says are sub-par, not normal, unusual, are the very things God takes and uses for his glory, if we let him.

I remember a number of years ago I worked at Monadnock Bible Conference.  One week out of the summer was devoted for people who couldn’t see and couldn’t hear.  Some could do neither.  The famous evangelist, Ralph Montanus was the speaker that week.  As a blind man, the world would view the lack of sight as a negative.  But in God’s view, his blindness made him fit to lead hundreds of people into a relationship with God that will last for eternity.

Our world looks a children born without an arm, a leg or some part of their body as tragic.  On a human level it is tragic.  But in God’s view, even this tragedy can be the foundation of a fruitful ministry for God.

Look at Daniel.

 “1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure-house of his god. 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility-- 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. 6 Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.” Daniel 1:1-7, NIV.

Notice the list of things Daniel had over which he had no control.  Remember, this list becomes the foundation for his ability to meet, influence and help Nebuchadnezzar.

He was born into a royal or noble family.  He didn’t have any obvious physical defect.  He was a quick learner; he was well informed about life in general.  He had the qualities needed to serve in the king’s palace.

You can argue with me the nurture vs. nature argument if you want.  But I will say that most of what we see about Daniel here was given to Daniel as a gift.

Would you not agree with me that if Daniel had been born into a different family, had a hard time with studies, was not good looking that he would not have gained an audience in the Babylonian court?

Conversely, if Daniel had worked digging ditches is there not the possibility that his intelligence, his good looks, his upper class family background might have produced resentment among some of the people he worked with?

I wonder if any of you have ever heard anyone speak negatively about the church or about me?  It’s possible that someone who has never met me, never been in this church could prejudge us and say that we think we are better than anyone else, that we look down on them, that we are too hypocritical to care about anything.  It would not be true.  They may never have talked to me, may never know how unworthy I am to bear the name of Christ, never know how much we bask in the light of the grace of God who has been merciful to us as sinners.

But they would say it to you?  Sure! Why?  Because God has laid a foundation in your life and you can relate to certain people better than others because of this.  This foundation in our life gives us the raw materials for bridge-building with others.

So what do you have as a foundation in your life?  I would encourage you to go home, write on a piece of paper these words: “Plus” and “minus.”  On the plus side write a list of things that you have that you can’t change.  You might list your family, your country, your job or military experiences.  But also list the bad experiences.  Have you been a victim or committed domestic abuse?  Are you a person who has overcome drug, alcohol or other substances?  Do you have a police record?  Are you fat or skinny, tall or short. Put all of these on the plus side and you will see what is foundational in your life.  This are the points of contact.

But, you say, if I put my prison record, my physical defects, my bad experiences in the past on the plus side, what will I put on the negative side?

I won’t go into it much because our text doesn’t deal with this at this point.  But the negatives are active sins you are doing right now.  Are you a gossip?  Have you told anyone a lie lately?  Are you cheating or cutting corners at work?  Is there someone you refuse to forgive?  Is there anything you are doing that, if it hit the newspapers, would cause great shame and embarrassment?  These are the items that go on the negative side.  The past is past and God can use your experiences.  But the present is now and God wants us to repent of our sin and do what is right. 

When we repent, we are building on the foundation.  The foundation is all that God has given us, the unchangeable aspect of our lives.

The world calls this, “Be yourself.  Be happy with who you are.”  The Christian says, “Be who God made you.  Be content with the gifts he has given.”

It is this ability that made Daniel a more effective witness.  He used what he had.  He built on the foundation of God’s gifts to him.  He didn’t try to be what he was not, but submitted himself and his circumstances to God.

We would be a different church if each one of us took inventory of what we have in the plus column.  We would be a different church if we took those things in the plus column and said to God, “This is what you gave me to use for your glory. I am content and thankful for what I have. Let me use these for you.”

People would be doing a better job at whatever work they do.  They would have a greater awareness of the grace of God as they identified the gifts he has given them.  They would look for opportunities to use their gifts and talents in ministry.  The world around, the people who most closely identify with them, would see their faith and would be attracted to their Savior.

Selah!