What Really Matters by Clinton A. Macomber

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

Daniel did not challenge something over which he had no control. Instead he took it patiently. His new masters would immediately take notice of a young man who calmly dealt with his predicament. In fact they would develop a great deal of sympathy for such a person, instead of the normal hatred.

Daniel was faced with another dilemma. He was being given a name that would bestow honor to an evil idol. One would figure this was something worth dying to stop. Instead we find that there was no recorded rebellion. Daniel, in fact, carried that name the rest of his life. Even after those who renamed him had passed away, the name remained.

God promises to give each one who overcomes the worldly attachments a new name. The only reason that would be necessary is because of the effects of sin on our earthly name. Earthly people named us, and earthly people abuse it. God is going to one day remove the stigma an earthly name carries!

Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

The lesson is that what people call us is inconsequential. Because Daniel did not rebel and raise an issue over his renaming, God was able to allow Daniel to be befriended of his master.

Society Offers Evil Food

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Because Daniel was in a rigorous training program, he needed to be able to think clearly. A weird name does not keep one from being able to learn. When others mutilate our body, they do not hinder the mind. What we eat, however, has a direct effect on a our mental abilities.

The effects of the food of the elite are well known. Today many drink alcoholic beverages. Alcohol destroys brain tissue and breaks down one’s inhibitions. This causes the “social” drinker to be crass and crude in their dealing with other people. It also removes their ability to understand and distinguish the real issues at hand. The result is a repressive society.