Jump Start # 3964
Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine he drank; so he sought permission form the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.”
Malcom Goldwell in his book on David and Goliath said, “If you don’t have enough money to get what the kids want, you can simply say, ‘No, we can’t.’ If you have more than enough money, you have to say, ‘No, we won’t.’ No, we won’t is much more difficult to say than ‘No, we can’t.’”
Can’t is beyond the possibility. Circumstances have made the decision for you. Won’t means you could, but you have made a choice not to. You came to that conclusion, not your circumstances. You realized that it’s not the best choice for your family. We won’t.
It seems that this is where our faith takes us. It’s not a matter of I can’t, but rather, I decided not to. I could, but I won’t. I won’t because it’s not best for me and my walk with the Lord.
Our verse today, describes young Daniel, taken captive to Babylon. Away from home. Away from parents. Introduced to a new language. Given a new name. Introduced to idolatry and strange foods. He could have taken the philosophy of ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,’ or, ‘when in Rome, be a Roman.’ But he didn’t. The answer wasn’t I can’t. The answer was “I won’t.” Whether in Jerusalem, Babylon or any place, he knew that he wanted to please his God. What a powerful and great reminder for us today.
First, I could, but I won’t is driven by faith. It’s not guilt driven. It’s not about keeping out of trouble. It’s from a heart that wants to honor the Lord. Friday night with friends. Someone passes around bottles of beer. If you haven’t made your mind up ahead of time, as Daniel did, you’ll likely go along with the crowd. Daniel knew what he would do. Could, but I won’t.
Second, without causing a big scene, your example will find others wishing they had the spiritual courage and faith as you do. Far too many just go along with what everyone else is doing. To see someone kindly refusing, flexing a moral and spiritual muscle, is rare. It’s more than a Friday night with friends. It’s a Monday morning at work. The office gossip. I could, but I won’t. It’s the pressure to fudge numbers, lie and be dishonest. I won’t. It’s about backstabbing co-workers to make yourself look better to the boss. I won’t.
I could but I won’t even trickles into our relationship with each other. “Please do not tell anyone this,” begins the conversation. You promise you won’t. But, before the day is over, you share the news with your own added restrictions, “I’m not supposed to tell anyone, so please do not share this.” And, that person does what you do. They tell someone. Around and around the news leaks. Instead, when someone tells you, you know you could, but you won’t. You won’t because you gave your word. You won’t because you wouldn’t like someone to do that to you.
Third, “I won’t” doesn’t fear what others may say or what consequences may come. It’s about you and the Lord. “I won’t” stands upon a confident faith that fully and completely trusts the Lord. I won’t be what others want me to be. I will be what the Lord wants me to be.
Notice how Daniel handled this situation. He made up his mind. Away from home, who would know? Away from home how would anyone fault him? Not Daniel. He got permission not to eat the food. He didn’t throw a plate of food on the floor. He didn’t stand on the table and declare that everyone was going to Hell. He sought permission. He went through the right channels. Sometimes our “I won’t,” blows up because we blow up.
It’s about a choice. I choose the Lord. I choose the Lord’s way. There are times when the opposite language rings true. There will be some who say, “You can’t.” But, you know “you will.” When David decided to fight the challenger Goliath, there were many who said, “You can’t.” His own family said that. King Saul said that. But for David, he chose “I will.” I will not give up when others have. I will not lose faith when others no longer try. I will keep going. I will keep praying. I will keep working for the Lord.
Giants fall when faith abounds. “I won’t,” driven by love and faith for the Lord. A declaration of determination and hope. Rather than allowing circumstances or others to make your decision, you make it ahead of time.
I could…but I won’t.
Roger