Eat Your Veggies Part 2

Feb. 1

Read: Daniel 1:8-20

Eat Your Veggies Part 2

“…why should (the king) see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age?…Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” (v.10,12)

The people of God are actually STRENGTHENED by what would break down and weaken anyone else. Like the Hydra from Greek mythology that was slain by Hercules - the monster with many heads who would sprout back two new heads every time one was cut off- adversity does not break the people of God, it actually makes us stronger! The challenge miraculously brings about a MORE FRUITFUL life for those who are in Christ. (cf. John 15) The author Nassim Nicholas Taleb calls this being “anti-fragile”. We see this worked out in Daniel.

Daniel did not pick “vegetables and water” because he wanted to be a vegetarian or because it was “healthy”. We run the risk of stripping this account of its power when we do this. It is not simply a choice of Daniel making “better food choices” and as a result he and his crew end up stronger and sharper. No, this is God working in the lives of his people to make them “anti-fragile”… to build them up through something that would normally break someone down. Daniel’s goal was “not defiling himself” even though doing so would put him in a position that seemed weaker, less-than, and non-advantageous. (v.8) This truth is made clear by the response of the Eunuch in charge. (v.10) Daniel and his cohort were choosing a path that by every earthly and reason-based measure would leave them weak. This is what the Eunuch didn’t understand, the hand of God over his people making “beauty from ashes” and “joy from mourning”… this is not just ENDURING the trial… it is BEING MADE BETTER BY IT. (cf. Is. 61:3)

Until we are ready to “check out” of the world’s system and walk the path that the Lord has for us, despite the appearance of it making us “weaker” and our supposedly “missing out on the kings food”, we will not be fit to be supernaturally strengthened by God and given HIS blessings. When we remain tethered to the world’s system we remain FRAGILE… easy broken by our circumstances and unraveled by normal adversity. We become so afraid of potential discomfort and missing out that we choose defilement over blessing… the “kings food” over “veggies”. Daniel put this to the test and God delivered! “At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food.” (v.15) It was not simply in “appearance” and “fat-ness” either. The scriptures say that, “God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” (v.17) You are not fit to wield spiritual gifts when you are still swayed and beholden to the “kings food”… when you are willing to defile yourself for the sake of gain, comfort, or on a perceived path to what the world and culture around you tells you will make you smarter, stronger, and better looking!

Daniel and his friends eventually are placed in front of the king. Look at this:

“And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.” (v.19) These men turned out 10x better than the best the kingdom around them had to offer. These men surpassed the best that the pagan culture had to offer. These men were fit for the mission and ministry God had for them and not only “made the cut” but actually end up entrusted with MORE power and authority in their circle than anyone else. They took the path that looked like it would lead to weakness… and it actually led to influence and strength.

As the people of God we must not be fragile. We will be paralyzed by fear and devoured by the culture if we become too afraid to deny the king’s food and defile ourselves. We will be a slave to the politics, culture, and marketing of this world until we embrace the truth that we are made “anti-fragile” in Christ Jesus… would should break us will make us stronger. When we are willing to feast on what GOD gives us… the bread of life… not matter what, then we will be strong, sharp, and fit to be given greater spiritual gifts and blessing. This is so that we can bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. This is the TRUE KINGS food! The popular culture of the day DOES NOT seek the Lord. To remain “undefiled” will sooner or later mean walking a path that looks like it will lead to weakness and inferiority. The culture wants to entice you with rich food and wine, keep you distracted, so you can be indoctrinated with THEIR “language and customs” to become servants of a pseudo-king. So who will you follow? Will you become entrapped by the political circus or the cultural carnival? Would you remain undefiled even if it seems like you will be “missing out”? Are you tired of eating the diet that the world offers you … telling you it will strengthen you and give you life… when really it is settling for something inferior to what Christ offers? Are you ready to become “anti-fragile” in the Lord, “eat your veggies”, and embrace the destiny that the Lord has for you? Love you guys. - JDP