What Jesus said about ... fasting.
When you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. When you go without food, wash your face and comb your hair, so that others cannot know that you are fasting – only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. Matthew 6: 16-18
Fasting dates back to the Old Testament. I guess it was a way "to sacrifice" something to God. To do something good for God. Jesus, who was/is God, fasted for forty days. So He taught us that it was a "good thing" to do.
But let's be careful here. There is nothing that we can do for God or Jesus that would repay what they have done for us. No fasting, lighting candles, placing flowers by statues, repetitive prayers or anything else will in themselves repay what God has done for us. He is in no way diminished, or left lacking, if we stopped doing these things. We do them as a sign of respect, love, honour and devotion to God. Not as a repayment or in exchange for favours asked for. God does not bargain with us and wants payment by fasting or anything else. His love for us is priceless and does not need repaying.
So ... do we fast or not? By all means fast if you wish as a gift to God; but not as a bargaining tool in expectation for returns. Now here's a thought ... why not fast by giving up something and then give the money saved to charity?
NOTE: This post is part of a series of articles entitled "What Jesus said about ..." If you click the label "What Jesus said" at the end of the article you'll be able to access all the articles.
ReplyDeleteIf there are any topics you would like discussed in this series please write to me by clicking the "Contact us" tab at the top right of this page.
We took turns fasting & praying at a Messianic Jewish synagogue I was a part of in the 1990's. A young woman was hospitalized with problems after childbirth. We started on a Sunday, she recovered on that Monday. It was my first experience with praying while fasting and I have to say the bible says "fast and pray" for a reason. I don't know why it works, but it does.
ReplyDeleteGod does answer prayers, Sandi. Not many people believe it; but He does. Thank you for sharing your story.
DeleteGod bless you.
...I'm not good at this.
ReplyDeleteNot good at what precisely, Tom? Fasting is not eating much for a period (a day) - i.e, only one light meal. Abstinence is giving up something for a period, (alcohol, chocolates, treats, cinema etc ...) i.e. 40 days until Easter. And giving the money saved to charity if you wish - not compulsory.
DeleteGod bless.
No, there is nothing we could ever do to repay God for the riches of His grace, Victor. I do like your last idea about giving the money we would have spent on ourselves to charity. Blessings, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, we should give from what we have "denied" ourselves; not from our plenty. For example, if we give our spare clothes to charity, all we have done is get rid of clothes we do not want. Nothing clever about that. But if we deny ourselves something, like a meal out at a restaurant, or a luxury like chocolate, alcohol, a trip to the cinema, and give what we would have spent to charity - then that is real giving.
DeleteGod bless, Martha.
I was hoping you'd address this, Victor! All around, I've heard people proclaim their intentions -- while I'm left wondering, "is there something the matter with me?" LOL, not really.
ReplyDeleteTrue, I've tried bargaining with God in the past ("Please let this plane land safely and I promise .....")
I love your suggestion about lessening my desires and giving to charity.
Do not feel guilty. Many people try to bargain with God. Catholics do it all the time with their lit candles and Rosary prayers. The Church is to blame for not teaching them properly. We should light candles, place flowers by statues etc ... as a sign of devotion, love and respect; not as pre-payment for favours. As a Catholic; I find many of them around me crazy in their thinking.
DeleteAs I mentioned to Martha, (above), I like to just abstain from something and give the money to charity.
God bless you always, Mevely.
Well done, thank you and thank you for your prayers which I will reciprocate Aloha
ReplyDeleteMany thanx for your much needed prayers, Cloudia. God bless you my friend.
DeleteGreat suggestion, thank you, Victor.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Bill. God bless always.
DeleteYour suggestion to give money saved from fasting to charity is good. You are right, we cannot "repay" God and Jesus for what they have done for us. But we can do our best to behave in ways that reflect their character.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea to give up something you would buy for yourself and give it to others. There is so much need out there.
ReplyDelete