Motives in Fasting

.... In our previous posting we saw that fasting is intercessory in nature: a laying down of our life on behalf of others as a reflection of Jesus, who did the same for us all. But for God to honor our motive as such He must see it conveyed through the entire fasting episode.

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.... For example, God expects our fasting to be done quietly, for Him alone to see. Our motive must be to connect with Him. But if we mention to others that we are fasting, or show it through outward signs, He sees an ulterior motive in our hearts: that a part of our motivation has been to brag, so that others will admire us for being ‘so spiritual’ (Matthew 6:16-18). In such a case, the honor we receive from man will be the only reward we do receive, and the prayer itself will go unanswered:

.... "For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends."

(2 Corinthians 10:18)

.... In the passage we are about to quote we'll see, again, that prayer was undertaken to be seen by men. In this particular case, it was to show who was more ‘spiritual’ for the purpose of strife in winning an argument:

.... "Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high."

(Isaiah 58:4)

.... In another revealing passage, Jesus told the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector:

.... "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men-- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

(Luke 18:10-14)

.... Jesus told us that the Pharisee was praying "with himself", because his prayers were getting no higher than the ceiling. God was not listening, even though the Pharisee fasted often, for God resists the proud and they are destined for humility instead of honor. But His heart was toward those who seeks Him humbly in their prayer, especially in prayer with fasting.

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Daily Bible Reading: Romans 1