Acts of Righteousness: Fasting

Well, I'm nearing the end of this series. So far, we've seen how our attitude should be toward giving and praying. Jesus finishes with fasting. Fasting is kind of a touchy subject with many Christians. Many believe that fasting is just an Old Testament tradition. Others say that by fasting, they are able to better discover the will of God for their lives. I'm not advocating one idea or the other. If it works for you, and you feel God leading you to fast, then do it. Let's see what Jesus has to say about fasting.

Mat 6:16-18

Verse 18 tells us that when we fast, we shouldn't do like the hypocrites. Notice in Matthew 6:1-18, each time Jesus is teaching us how to do something (giving, praying, fasting) He tells us not to do it like the hypocrites. That is important.

How do the hypocrites fast? They make it look like they are fasting. They put on a sad face, their facial expressions show they are fasting. Why do they do it that way? So that people will look at them and praise them for their faith in God. Look at what Jesus says about them at the end of verse 18. By making it look like they are fasting, they have received their reward.  They sought the praise of men above the praise of God. How sad, yet so often we do the same thing. How then, should we fast?

Verse 17 reveals that answer. Jesus tells us to wash the face and comb the hair. Verse 18 tells us not to appear like we are fasting. That means that we go about our day to day business, just like any other day. After all, why is it any concern of others if you are fasting? If God has told you to fast for something, then do it. Notice that when we fast in this way, God will reward us.

Like I said earlier in this series, it's all about your attitude. Do you do things like giving, praying and fasting so that others are impressed by your sacrifices for God? If so, then you are a hypocrite and you have received your reward. This is not me writing this, it is the Word of God. Think about it. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (17) But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; (18) That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.