Do I Fast From Fasting? – Matthew 6:16-18

My son’s brother-in-law fasted for 40 days. He didn’t abstain from all nourishment or he would have died. For him, it was a time of soul-searching, not a time to say, “Look at me. I’m being like Jesus.” It was all about his walk with the Lord. Jesus is describing the righteousness that is greater than the Scribes and the Pharisees, the righteousness that belongs to the kingdom of heaven, so he must address, as he has already begun to do, the practice of spiritual disciplines, like prayer, giving, and now, fasting.

And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18 ESV)

The one who thinks religion is a competition for God’s approval will seek to show how religious they are.  The one who cares more what others think than what God thinks will seek to impress others with their religious practices.  Fasting is supposed to be a discipline I use to improve my sincerity before God.  It does not impress God, it impresses me.  But when I use it to get the approval of others I have ruined its purpose.  Whatever reward I hoped to get from others is fleeting and there is no reward from God for it.

Fasting is a discipline that all religions, or most all, practice. But Protestant Christians have mostly gotten away from it. There are many ways to fast (different time lengths, from certain kinds of food only, from things other than food, etc.). But the point is I am doing something that says food (or whatever is normally essential to my life) is of secondary importance to time spent with God. And normally in that time I realize how much I prefer food (or whatever) to time spent with God and it exposes my heart.

Fasting is not a heroic thing, it is a soul-exposing thing. And it is redeeming time I might have spent seeing to my needs for use in spending time with the Lord. It is a form of mourning, mourning the shallowness of my heart’s affections. Have you truly, in this manner, fasted?

Why am I doing my righteousness?  If for God alone, it is truly righteous.  Don’t yield to the temptation to promote yourself in any way at all. Let God do the promoting.