“Be careful NOT TO PERFORM YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS before men TO BE SEEN by them. If you do, you will HAVE NO REWARD from your Father in heaven….” Matthew 6: 1 BSB (Emphasis mine)
In the previous edition, we looked at how we can effectively fast to receive the blessing in relation to the secrecy of fasting. We concluded by reflecting on Matthew 6:16-18. This morning we are going to briefly analyze this biblical text in relation to our conduct when fasting.
“And when YOU FAST, DON’T MAKE IT OBVIOUS, AS THE HYPOCRITES DO, for they TRY TO LOOK MISERABLE AND DISHEVELED SO PEOPLE WILL ADMIRE (applaud) THEM FOR THEIR FASTING. I tell you the truth, that is the ONLY REWARD THEY WILL EVER GET. But when you fast, COMB YOUR HAIR AND WASH YOUR FACE (Have a presentable appearance). Then NO ONE WILL NOTICE THAT YOU ARE FASTING, EXCEPT YOUR FATHER, WHO KNOWS WHAT YOU DO IN PRIVATE. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. NLT, (Emphasis mine).
The above scripture suggests that; when we are fasting, it shouldn’t be so obvious for people to notice. Most of us when fasting, we either trumpet it around or put on a façade that makes it so obvious for people to notice.
During the Old Testament period, when fasting, people put on sack cloth or decorate themselves with ashes to signify that, they are either morning or fasting. By doing so, it was so obvious for those around them to notice. Sometimes they do these to deceive people in order to gain some admiration. Others also may not necessarily adorn themselves with sack cloth or ashes but will put on a miserable and unkempt appearance for those around them to notice their unusual appearance which makes it easy to guess their state.
Although we may have genuine heart or a right motive to fast, but our appearance may attract public admiration or sympathy which can cause us to miss our reward or blessing for fasting. Our appearance can also put us in a hypocritical position, when we do not necessarily mean so. That is why Jesus suggested we comb our hair and wash our face in order to look presentable publicly without anyone noticing anything.
Sometimes as believers, when we go to a secret place to seek the face of God in fasting and prayers, we go along with cameras to stream live videos or post photos of us on social media to tell the whole world of what we are doing. When we do this, well lose the sense of secrecy and become hypocritical indirectly. Our social media friends will applaud us, but there will be no reward from the Lord.
On the lighter side, a Christian sister was in a fasting mood and was offended by her neighbour. In her reaction to the offence, she said to her neighbour “Count yourself lucky that, I am fasting today. Otherwise, I would have dealt with you!” Sometimes we may not intend to announce our fast, but our inability to discipline ourselves or to tolerate people can also once again compromise our fasting.
Another lesson we can learn during fasting is to follow the example of Jesus in the area of discipline. He managed to subject His will to the Father and not yielding to his weakness in the flesh (Matthew 4:1-11). When fasting, there will always be people and situation that would seek to compromise our fast but we must learn to discipline ourselves and not behave like the sister in the above story.
Beloved, since God sees through our hearts and knows our motives, it is therefore expedient to try and be discreet when fasting. By doing so, we can receive the desired blessing or reward from God. God bless us all as we continue in the next edition.
PRAY WITH ME
Lord Jesus, I thank you this day for my life. From this day forward, I have resolved in my heart to let my fasting be in secrecy and try as much as possible to discipline myself. Holy Spirit, please guide and help me achieve this. This I pray in the precious name of Jesus! Amen!
Author: REV. SOLOMON LUTTERODT