Village Schools of the Bible

A Purpose That Defines a Life
By Max Frazier, Jr.

Perhaps no book in recent memory has so stirred the Christian world as has Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Drive Life. It has sold over 22 million copies and has stayed on the New York Times best seller list longer than any other Christian book in the recent past. We have heard the stories of how this book influenced a young mother in Atlanta to thwart the plans of a would-be killer. Thousands of churches have gone through the 40-days of purpose, seeking to discover an answer to the question, “Why am I here?”

Now I am not going to critique Rick Warren’s book. But, I must admit, I am surprised by its success. In an age of self-help mania, one would think that most people “have it all put together.” Yet, the millions who have read The Purpose Driven Life, and the thousands who have gone through the 40-days of purpose would prove that there is still an emptiness resident within. How does a person discover a purpose that is capable of defining his or her life?

Of the definitions of the word “purpose” given in the Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language, these two especially intrigued me: 1) resolution; determination, and 2) the object for which something exists or is done. In other words, “purpose” defines the reason why a person acts the way he acts, thinks the way he thinks. It defines our character. We could say that it defines us better than even our name. Perhaps we could better say that our name represents our character. When I say the name “Abraham Lincoln” you have an image. Or when I say “Adolph Hitler” you have an image. Even when I say the name “Village Schools of the Bible” you would have an image of the character of this organization. Yes, our name does represent our character.

I would like to draw our attention to a young man whose entire life revolved around the knowledge of his purpose for living. His is a story of a man whose entire lifetime – many Bible scholars believe he lived well into his 90’s – had as its purpose the serving of God.

An Introduction to Daniel – the Teenager

We meet Daniel in the first chapter of the book that bears his name. The year is 605 BC and the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar is feeling his oats as the world’s most powerful leader. He has just completed the pulverizing of the proud Egyptian forces at a place called Carchemish. He is now the “king of the world.” He has become greatly irritated at the lack of respect that he has received from Judah’s King Jehoiakim – you might remember that he is the king that Jeremiah said would be buried like a donkey. So, it wasn’t just Nebuchadnezzar that Jehoiakim was irritating.

Nebuchadnezzar and his armies surround the city of Jerusalem and, the text tells us, there were many young people who were residents in and around the palace. Now, Nebuchadnezzar was pretty picky as to who should be taken with him into Babylon. We read these words in verse 4: young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. And, numbered among those taken was a young man named Daniel.

We could say, that up to that moment, Daniel pretty much had everything going his way. He was brilliant in his studies. He was a quick learner – I am always envious of those who can do a project once and have it mastered. He was handsome, probably a heart-throb among the young ladies there in Jerusalem. And he was physically fit – the All-Judean quarterback on the palace football team.

Yet, Daniel’s purpose was not defined by his intelligence or his appearance or, even for that matter, where he lived or what he did. It is so very easy to define ourselves by what we do. I am a carpenter. I am an insurance agent. I am a politician. I am a doctor. I am a business person. Well, you can fill in the blanks. Or, we define ourselves by our education. I am a graduate of Harvard, or the University of Minnesota, or of XYZ University with a degree in engineering, sociology, or whatever. It is almost as if we believe that such definitions declare our purpose for existence.

If we had had the opportunity of asking a young teenaged Daniel what was his purpose in life, I am confident that he would not say, “Well, you know I am the head of my class at the university.” Or, “I hope very soon to land a good business deal and I am working hard to bring it to pass.” Now, it is not that Daniel might not have been doing either – in fact, he probably was. “But,” Daniel would say, “those things do not define who I am or why I am here.”

But, if they don’t, then what does? Let’s focus upon Daniel’s statement found in verse 8. And, here, I truly like the King James translation better: 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.

Nebuchadnezzar had looked at his collection of outstanding young men he had brought with him back to Babylon. He decided that these men could serve him in several ways. But first they would have to be indoctrinated into the cultures, customs, and ways of Babylon. They would have to become Babylonian. Nebuchadnezzar even changed their names from Hebrew to Babylonian. Daniel’s name meant “God is my judge.” He was renamed Belteshazzar, which meant “Bel’s prince”, a reference to the fact that Daniel’s allegiance would now be given to one of the Babylonian gods, Bel.

Part of this process of indoctrination included a change in diet. Now we don’t know what types of foods the chefs prepared in Nebuchadnezzar’s kitchens. But I am confident that they were edible for all. (I remember my first trip to India and my first meal in the restaurant at our hotel. The food certainly looked different and smelled different, but it was edible). But Daniel knew that God had commanded that only certain foods could be eaten if one wished to remain faithful in a relationship with God. And, it was a pretty safe conclusion, that those kitchens were not kosher.

Now, what is Daniel to do? To eat or not to eat certain foods seems pretty silly to us today. What’s wrong with a little piece of ham? Here is where Daniel’s knowledge of his purpose comes into clear play. He knew that he was called to serve a living and holy God. This was his purpose. He was not a student who just happened to be a Christian. No, he was a Christian who just happened to be a student. He was not just a potential government worker in training who happened to be a believer. He was a believer who happened to be a potential government worker in training.

Friends, here is the first principle I want you to remember: Our purpose defines our responses to the circumstances that we encounter. Daniel, at that moment, looked at his captors and declared that he could not eat what was placed before him. His purpose was to serve God and not to defile himself, thus disqualifying himself from that service. So, he refused to eat and requested an alternative meal instead. And God honored Daniel’s purpose by making him and his three friends the tops in their class.

Daniel, what is your purpose? My purpose is to serve the living God even if it means that I am different from those around me.

A Stirring Example of Daniel – the Middle-Aged Man

I would like to draw our attention to the fourth chapter of Daniel. The Bible does not record for us the year this story occurs. But, it is safe to assume that Daniel has been in the employ of King Nebuchadnezzar for several years. And, what has Daniel been accomplishing these many years? The purpose of God.

Nebuchadnezzar has had a dream – a most unusual dream. In fact, we could say that it had become a nightmare to him. So, he sought to discover what its meaning was, but no one seemed to know. But, the King had observed Daniel as he gave service to the King these many years. Daniel had previously interpreted a rather difficult dream for the King. So, Daniel was summoned to the King.

After being told the dream, the Bible says that Daniel was greatly perplexed for a time and his thoughts alarmed him (verse 19). Unlike the previous dream, this one was not favorable to the King. What does a person do in this situation? Does he tell the King what he thinks the King wants to know? This had been the usual custom of those prophets who were in the employ of the kings in the past. You might remember the story of King Jehoshaphat who had been invited by King Ahab to go into battle with him. Ahab consulted over 400 prophets who all told him what King Ahab wanted to hear – go into battle and be victorious. But Jehoshaphat smelled a “skunk in the hen house” and asked for a real prophet of God. So Micaiah was summoned. Along the way Micaiah was counseled with these words: Look, as one man the other prophets are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably (1 Kings 22:13). Yet, Micaiah faithfully declared the message of God. It wasn’t what King Ahab wanted to hear, but it was what he needed to hear.

Should Daniel tell Nebuchadnezzar the truth of the dream? He ran the risk of losing his position. He might be thrown into prison. Or worse, he might lose his life for speaking out against the King.

Look at the King’s response to Daniel’s dilemma: Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you (Daniel 4:19). It is almost as if Nebuchadnezzar is saying, “Daniel, I have watched your service to me these many years. There is something about you that is different from others in the palace. Your life seems to have a different purpose. Don’t hesitate to tell me the truth.”

Friends, here is the second principle in our quest to understand our purpose: Our purpose is to be displayed daily and in a quiet and unassuming way in the market places where God has placed us. It is not that we call attention to ourselves. It is not that we wear a neon sign that blazes the message – “Be like me!” Had Daniel been able to give a verbal witness to the King prior to this time? Perhaps not since the first dream had been interpreted. But his life gave evidence of his purpose. He served the King well because he served God well. That was his purpose.

Awhile ago I had lunch with a dear friend of mine. We were discussing the current conditions in Christianity. My colleague made a statement that is somewhat out of the realm of the acceptable today. He said, “Max, I fear success more than failure. Failure draws me closer to Jesus. Success causes me to rely upon the flesh.” I believe Daniel had a similar fear. We know the Apostle Paul had a similar fear, for he told the Philippians that his main goal in life was to be more conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, not to attain a status of popularity.

A Challenging Conclusion to Daniel – the Aged Servant

There are few individuals in the Bible who can hold a candle to the length of faithful service rendered by Daniel. The account of Daniel and the lions’ den, recorded for us in the sixth chapter, occurs near the end of a long career of public service. Daniel had witnessed the destruction of the Babylonian Empire by the Medo-Persians, and yet had maintained his position within the governmental structure –unheard of for that day as well as for our day. Many scholars believe that Daniel was into his 90’s by the time this story is told.

All these many years Daniel has created more than a few enemies. It was not so much what Daniel did as to how Daniel lived. Others were out to better themselves even if it involved shady dealings. But not Daniel. Integrity was more than just a word in his vocabulary. It was his lifestyle.

Finally, those who had opposed him had had enough of Daniel. A plan was hatched that would certainly mean the demise of this “goody-two-shoe” in the palace. The King, flattered by the thought that he would be the only source of prayer-granting for 30 days, unhesitatingly signed the decree making it all possible. There was only one person in the realm for which this decree was targeted – Daniel.

Now, if you were Daniel, what would you do? Your life is nearly over. You have served God faithfully. You have represented God as well as you knew how in the midst of a pagan environment. “Okay, I can continue praying to God, but I just need to change the manner in which I pray. If they can’t see me praying, they can’t say anything about it. Therefore, I just need to close the blinds, and perhaps, just lie quietly on my bed in prayer.” You and I might have said those words, but not Daniel.

Let’s look at verse 10: Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down n his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Did you notice those last words: just as he had done before.

Let me ask you a question: Had Daniel’s purpose changed just because he had gotten older? Absolutely not! Here, then, is the third principle: God’s purpose for our lives does not change as we grow older. God still wants us to be His servants. Oh, our opportunities for service might change. Our manner of service might change, and probably will change because of our changing physical conditions. But, our heart, our passion to serve God should not change. Daniel would continue serving God even if it meant ending his life in the jaws of a lion. He would close his life as strongly as he had begun it – in the service of God.

It was September 22, 1967. I was beginning my junior year at Wheaton College. It was one of those bright fall mornings with the campus graced with the beauty of maples turning a brilliant hue of reds and yellows. It was chapel time and, together with nearly two thousand others, I found my way among the noise to my seat. We had been instructed in the past to enter reverentially into the chapel, but hardly any of us paid attention. That particular chapel began as did all chapels, with the singing of a hymn, followed by prayer, usually given by the President of the College, in this case, Dr. Armerding. The speaker that morning was Dr. V. Raymond Edman, the former president and present chancellor of the College. This was his first day back with us following a serious heart attack suffered the previous fall. Prexy, as he was known, began by chewing us out for our lack of reverence. Then he began his message, titled, “In the Presence of the King.” It was a tribute to the time he had had an audience with the Emperor of Ethiopia. He described the emperor’s appearance and the throne, and then, the focus of his descriptions began to change. It was almost as if he was trying to describe for us something celestial. The next thing we heard was a loud thump on the floor. Two thousand students became instantly quieted – you could have heard a pin drop on the carpet. We knew what had happened. Dr. Edman, whose purpose in life was defined as serving God, had rendered his final service for the King.

Conclusion

Friends, God has only one purpose for each of us. That single purpose is that we might serve Him with all of our hearts, with all of our souls, with all of our strength, and with all of our minds. He will provide many different ways for each of us to give expression to that purpose – some through music, some through teaching, some through hospitality, some through a friendly call to a person who needs encouraged. Others will find expression in the fields of business or public service.

When I was in about the fifth grade, I remember receiving a plaque from my home church after I had completed a year of memory work. I am not sure whatever happened to that plaque. But I will never forget what it said: Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Friends, let’s not go searching for our purpose as if it were some great mystery to be discovered. It is not that difficult to discern. God wants us to serve Him faithfully. Let’s follow the example of Daniel. Let us purpose in our hearts that we will serve the King.