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Arioch was not like Daniel. He told the king that he - Arioch
- had discovered someone who could reveal the dream. Arioch
must not have been present when Nebuchadnezzar met with Daniel
the first time. Arioch wanted the king to believe that he, Arioch,
was needed and valuable. Arioch wanted the king’s favor
so he took credit for something he did not do. He disgraced
himself. Has that ever happened to you - someone takes credit
for something you did? How did it make you feel? Most of us
would become angry. We would say it is not fair. But God calls
us to not seek credit.
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Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of
God, that He may exalt you at the proper time . . . (NASB)
1 Peter 5:6
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It is a great reminder that we need to give credit to others
and not seek it for ourselves, even when we think we deserve
it. This is called self-sacrifice.
Daniel’s response was wonderful.
He started by reminding the king of his request and the failure
of his wise men.
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The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar,
“Are you able to make known to me the dream which
I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel answered
before the king and said, “As for the mystery about
which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers,
magicians, nor diviners are able to declare it to the
king. (NASB) Dan. 2:26-27
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But Daniel did not do this to gain favor with the king. He was
preparing the king to meet the one true God.
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However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries,
and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will
take place in the latter days. This was your dream and
the visions in your mind while on your bed. As for you,
O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what
would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries
has made known to you what will take place. But as for
me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom
residing in me more than in any other living man, but
for the purpose of making the interpretation known to
the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of
your mind. Dan. 2:28-30
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Conclusion.
To whom did Daniel give credit? Before Daniel shared the dream,
he gave all the credit away. Daniel did not want to take credit
for something someone else - God - had done through him. What
a contrast! Arioch wanted credit in order to gain favor, and
Daniel gave it all away to God.
When you teach, preach, serve, lead,
or minister in the church in different ways, what motivates
you? Do you want to draw others to yourself or to God? In the
gospel of John, Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd
and then describes a thief or a robber when He says,
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He who is a hireling, and not a shepherd . . . leaves
the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them, and
scatters them. He flees because he is . . . not concerned
about the sheep. (NASB) John 10:12-13
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The thief or robber comes to get for himself or herself and
does not care for the people in the church. They only care for
themselves. That is why they run. Jesus is trying to make the
point that He cares for us. He has described good shepherds
and those who are not. When you minister, do you seek to draw
credit away from God and to yourself? Are you a thief or a robber?
Do you steal the credit that belongs to God and seek to draw
others to yourself and not to God? If so, you are a robber!
God does not want men and women who are in the ministry for
themselves - robbers. He wants those who will sacrifice themselves
for Him. Men and women who will deny themselves and draw others
to Him. He wants Daniels!
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