What Really Matters by Clinton A. Macomber

• Title Page
• Introduction
• General Overview
• Daniel 1:1-6
  • The Importance of a Biblical Education
  • Biblical Concept of Education
  • Clippings
  • Did You Know?
  • Daily Devotional Guide
  • Word Find Puzzle
• Daniel 1:7-21
• Daniel 2
• Daniel 3
• Daniel 4
• Daniel 5
• Daniel 6
• Daniel 7
• Daniel 8
• Daniel 9
• Daniel 10
• Daniel 11
• Daniel 12

and listen to the prompting of the Spirit.

We have the admonition to spend our days in learning and relating the Word of God. This means that it will take a priority over many other pleasures and luxuries. It requires that one know the importance of wisdom and understanding. It requires a willingness to forego customs and wishes, and to apply oneself in a pioneering way to what really matters. The time to prepare one’s self for the Lord’s work is early in life, even before birth.

Royal Heritage

Daniel 1:1-3 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. ²And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. ³And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

A person may feel like a peon and be treated as such. God’s Word teaches that every one who has made Christ their Lord is a king in training. We are children of the King of kings and will one day reign on this earth. A person may be passed over in the future, by demonstrating disregard for the sobering facts of what is coming, and by continuing to wallow in our old pleasures and sins. The first quality that spared Daniel was his royal heritage and its resulting studies.

Physical Character

Daniel 1:4a Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured ….

The next qualification was that they be children who have no physical scars or impediments. Scars would prove that they did not spend their time in study, but instead spent their time fighting, or working with dangerous equipment at too young an age. It could also be a sign of lack of supervision and general carelessness. It is very important that children spend their younger days in “book learning” rather than in exploits, so that they will not miss out on the opportunity God gives to each one.

Something else being lost today is a polite manner of doing things. Those who have been taught to show respect and a mannerly approach