Lesson Seven • Fasting
Devotion 3: Disfigured Fasting – Asceticism
Pastor John Carter
“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.” Matthew 6:16
Apparently, there were some people who decided to fast so others would see them. Personally, I am not sure what good this did for anybody. They would disfigure themselves, for what purpose? Did they want to appear righteous? Were they hoping to receive some form of praise? It is a little bewildering for me to consider the gain that comes from doing this especially when I link it to fasting. Please do not take this the wrong way, but I am not going to give up food so you think more highly of me. I need food and to think that disfiguring myself in any way would bring praise or honor to God seems crazy.
As crazy as it sounds, Paul had to deal with others as well. Colossians 2:18-19 says, “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.”
The word “asceticism” as defined by Webster’s Dictionary, is “the practice of strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline: the condition, practice, or mode of life of an ascetic: rigorous abstention from self-indulgence.”
The Greek word used here in its basic form means humility. The word is used to describe true and honest humility in contrast to vain humility. This is the same word used in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Since Greek is a precise language, we can differentiate the intended use from Colossians as to Philippians. In other words, one is a genuine and authentic humility versus a vain or disingenuous humility.
As we read Matthew chapter 6 and listen to what Jesus is teaching regarding fasting, we need to seriously consider how we choose to humble ourselves. Looking back at yesterday’s definition of fasting, we see humility as a major component of fasting. We can have a false or dishonest approach to our motives when we fast. In Matthew chapter 6, we see Jesus warning about dishonest humility in fasting, for the purpose of others seeing us.
Jesus notes that their reward has been received. Honestly, after looking through the amazing promise that comes from walking in true, authentic humility before God, it is amazing to me that anyone would even want to trade the promises of God for cheap recognition.
Why would you want to give the promises of God away? They are promises of hearing, comforting, protecting, guiding, and healing us. If we could realize this, we might have less disfiguring happening in our current culture, as we are a particularly vain culture. Everyone wants to be seen. Disingenuous humility is definitely a thing we see. It is even in the church. We may talk about how we are fasting and think nothing of the implication. Zechariah 7:4-6 should help us with the right heart to approach our fasting that we do in secret, “Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me: ‘Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?’’”
God asks a fundamental question, “Was it for Me that you fasted?” This is one of the most important questions I believe we need to walk through when choosing to fast. Are you doing it for God? Is it a genuine aspect of humbling yourself before God? If you tend to find yourself answering those questions with a negative response, do not do it. Do not fast. Get your heart right and do not walk into fasting as a casual thing to just do for fun. God is not pleased with our halfhearted efforts. We see this in Malachi 1:8-9, “When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts.”
The whole point is, do not do something disingenuously or half-heartedly. Be authentic and genuine in your humility and sacrifice to God. He finds favor in this. The other aspect that we need to mention is our heart towards others when we fast. In Zachariah, we examined God’s question, “Did you do this for me?” Just a few short verses later, Zechariah 7:8-10 says, “And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.’”
I find this interesting that God recognizes our human character. When we are hungry, we tend to be unkind or show very little mercy to others. I think there is a Snickers commercial that represents this aspect pretty well. The diva or “hangry” person changes the way they treat people around them as soon as they consume a candy bar. I love that God, knowing our own character as humans, is kind enough to warn us not to pay attention to others around us, even when we fast. What good is it if we fast with a serious heart toward God but ignore our neighbors as we do it? In Zechariah, the poor, widowed, fatherless, and even the intentions of your heart towards your brother, require your examination.
Matthew 22:36-40 addresses this, “‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’”
Jesus summarizes the whole Old Testament to these fundamental principles. I am hoping you can see the link from Zachariah mentioning fasting to how Jesus talks about it in Matthew chapter 6. First, we need to make sure we are fasting with a genuine heart of worship for God. Second, we cannot make it about ourselves. Third, we cannot forget to love our neighbor while we do it.
Fasting with a genuinely humble heart is what God desires for us. Praying and fasting go together. As you think about fasting, start by asking God to work on your heart. Ask Him to show you aspects of your life that may not be so humble. Ask God to teach you how to love Him more. Evaluate how you can love others around you a little better.