Over the past several months we have been spending some time with Daniel. 

When he was captured, he was most likely around 15-years-old. At the end of the book, he was in his late 80’s or early 90’s.

After the Babylonian captivity had formally ended, many of his people were allowed to return to their homeland. We are never told that Daniel returned. Was he still being made to serve? Was he in poor health? We simply don’t know.

Some people could look at everything he endured and wonder if his life had somehow missed the mark. After all, he was captured as a young man, lost most of what he had known and loved, taken to a foreign land, possibly (probably) castrated to serve his captors’ interests, didn’t have any children or grandchildren, experienced pain and disappointment, was tricked and betrayed, and most likely never got to go home.

But does that mean his life was a waste? Absolutely not. Why? Because he spent his entire life pointing to God—and by that, I mean he spent his entire life prioritizing God, honouring God, knowing God, serving God, celebrating God, and reflecting God. That’s the most important thing there is!

This can also be true for you and me. 

‘But Matthew, my life is not turning out like I planned. My life has difficulty and loss. I have so many worries and my future is uncertain. Doesn’t that mean that my life has somehow missed the mark?’ 

Not necessarily. Just because your life isn’t turning out as planned, that doesn’t mean you’re not part of a plan. In Christ, our greatest purpose is to point to the greatness of God. We do that no matter what situation we’re in. This may look differently for different people. It will look different for the office manager and the musician and the grandma who looks after her grandkids four days a week. But what we all have in common is prioritizing God, honouring God, knowing God, serving God, celebrating God, and reflecting God, regardless of our circumstances. 

The point is to point to God. It was true for the 15-year-old Daniel. It was true for the 90-year-old Daniel. And 2500 years later, it’s true for you and me as well.

As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

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Notes:

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.