Daniel 5:13-17 “Then Daniel was brought in before
the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of
the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought
from Judah? Now I have heard about you that a spirit
of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom
have been found in you. Just now the wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that
they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but
they could not declare the interpretation of the message. But I
personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and
solve difficult problems. Now if you are able to read the inscription and make
its interpretation known to me, you will be clothed
with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you
will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.” Then Daniel answered and said
before the king, “Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to
someone else; however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the
interpretation known to him.” (NASB)
Ah, the crazy hand story! During a large celebration the
king (Nebuchadnezzar’s son Belshazzar) was having a great time until a strange
hand appeared and wrote something on the wall. Unable to know what it said or
meant, he went searching for someone who could help. Someone remembered how
Daniel had helped his father, so they called him and offered him a great reward
for interpreting this for the king. After he accomplishes this, Daniel is given
the great reward – even though he does the key thing in verse 17, and tells him
to keep the gifts – but he will still interpret. Here is where Daniel showed a
simple step – it wasn’t about him. The first time he interpreted there was
threat of death – but by now he was a known commodity, so there was just a
reward for him to “do his thing”. But Daniel knew it wasn’t about him, it was
about God. He wanted that clear – so he stated to keep the gifts. He knew that
doing what God had gifted him to do under reasons of personal gain would change
that relationship and possibly how God was able to use him. He wanted to
maintain proper motivation.
If we want God to restore our roar – it must be about Him
and not us.
Have a blessed day,
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