Is There Spiritual Merit to Fasting?

 The Questions Series

Fasting, according to the Bible, means to stop eating food for a specific time and purpose. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that not many of us practice fasting. We know that the Bible mentions fasting in relation to prayer, and we know that it’s a good practice in general. Then why don’t we do it?

            The simple reality is that we just never get around to putting our forks down. We live in a society where food is so plentiful that we don’t need to fast. And the harder truth to admit is that we don’t want to fast. Everywhere we go food is put before us. Whenever Christians gather for fellowship, there must be coffee and something to eat. It’s what we do. You would think that the Greek word for fellowship was “coffee.” (it’s koinonia, which if you stretch it, it sounds like caffeine).

            When Jesus preached his sermon on the mount, he addressed three fundamental aspects of religion. In Matthew 6 we read about giving, praying, and fasting. These three practices are common to all major religions of the world, including Christianity. Regarding fasting, people all over the world practice it. Except in North America. I’m not sure if it’s too liturgical or legalistic. Or have we forgotten its purpose? 

            For our “Questions” series, the question was asked, “Is there spiritual merit in fasting, or is its value only in the discipline involved?” Jesus teaches us about fasting, and the Bible has important things to say about it. Fasting is an important spiritual discipline in the Christian life that deserves our attention in study and in practice.

 

Jesus’ Teaching About Fasting

 

Fasting is going without food for a time and for a spiritual purpose. It could be something other than food that you go without. The principle of fasting is outrageously counter-cultural in our society, like abstaining from sex before marriage. We are more accustomed to indulging our desires. Abstaining from food is not a normal practice; it is out of the ordinary; and it is a key element in spiritual disciplines. 

            Jesus gives the impression in Matthew 6:16 that fasting was a normal part of worship. He said, “When you fast…”and assumed that his listeners were already in the habit of fasting. He didn’t say “if you fast,” but “when you fast.” No command that we know of was ever given that God’s people should fast, except in Leviticus 23:26-32, and that was for a very specific occasion.  Moses called it an “affliction” signifying that this a purposely uncomfortable experience. 

            What is the purpose of fasting for the Christian? "We fast in this life because we believe in the life to come." (“A Guide to Christian Fasting | Desiring God”) We believe that we are not supposed to “have it all” in this present life, but that we are looking forward to something more in the age to come. We fast from what we can see and taste to discipline our minds and bodies to yearn and hunger for God. 

            Fasting is for this life. When Jesus was asked why his disciples did not fast, he responded that one does not fast while the bridegroom is with you (Matt. 9:15). Fasting is akin to grieving. When Jesus left the disciples, then they would fast. In the same way, we fast or grieve that we are not yet with the Lord Jesus in the coming kingdom.   

            Fasting also reminds our bodies that we are in charge. When the stomach grumbles, we are eager to appease its roars. It thinks it is the lord of our desires. To deprive the body of food for a time subjects the stomach to our lordship, and thus to the Lordship of Christ. Jesus is our king, not our appetites. 

            If fasting is like grieving, then it should not be a production. Jesus told his disciples, “…do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others,” (6:16b). It seems that some people were using fasting as a “holiness” barometer. While they were fasting, these folks would appear in public with pained expressions and looking rough. Perhaps someone would ask them what was wrong. Then they could answer, “I’m fasting.” To which they person would respond, “Wow, you sure are spiritual. You must really love God.” 

            Jesus responds to this attitude saying, “That’s it. That’s your reward for fasting. Everybody look how holy Eugene is.” The implication is that fasting is an intensely personal and private activity between you and God. No one should know that you are fasting. “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you,” (17-18). Comb your hair, brush your teeth, appear normal. One time at a pastor’s meeting, my colleague arrived late and refused food and coffee. Anyone would assume that as he was having breakfast, he suddenly remembered that he had a meeting. But as he sat next to me, I could smell that he was fasting. I discovered I was right. To his credit, he was not advertising his devotion to God.

            Fasting is a form of grieving what is and longing for what will be. John Piper said that Jesus was testing the hearts of his listeners to see if God was truly their treasure. Is he our treasure? Do we long for God more than the treasures of this life? Jesus calls us to a radical reorientation to God, to have an utterly authentic, personal relationship with God. If God is not real to us, fasting will be a miserable experience, a pointless self-denial, unless we are focused on God, who he is, what he thinks, and what he will do.

 

A True Fast 

 

Like any spiritual discipline (praying, giving), fasting can lose its meaning and go off the rails. When Jesus taught about fasting, he would have had Isaiah 58 in mind. In that text we find God’s heart for what a fast should be.

            What we find in Isaiah 58 are very religious people. But they are not satisfied with their religiosity. In their minds, they are very devout; they fast regularly and pray ceaselessly. Their religious observances seem to be failing them because God is not responding in the way that they would like. They cry out in protest to God, “Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?” And God responds, “Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure and oppress all your workers.” (3).

            Fasting in scripture is normally associated with prayer. Many feel that fasting helps to focus our prayers. The problem with the people in Isaiah 58 is that they treated fasting as a spiritual hunger strike. They were trying to manipulate God into doing what they wanted him to do. They felt that they had done enough pious works to earn a response. Isaiah saw that they were treating God like the pagans who had to wake up the gods and perform for them to earn gifts. 

            To make matters worse, while these people were fasting and praying, their piety (spirituality) did not match their behavior towards their employees (3-4). How can you pray for mercy, but show none to those around you? How can you raise hands to God, but act wickedly to others? Fasting and prayer must be consistent with the life you live. 

            A true fast, the Lord reveals, is not just the denial of food to the stomach. A true fast is the denial of self for the sake of others. The goals of a fast are the creation of a just society, the meeting of individual needs, and caring for society. The Lord said, "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?" (Is. 58:6-7). These values spill over from a genuine fast.

            Does this not remind you of something in the NT? Something Jesus said? In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about how the Son of Man will come in his glory at the Last Day and will separate the sheep and the goats. He will say to the sheep (to those on his right), "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me," (25:34-36). The righteous, the sheep, will say, "When did we do that?" as if in shock that they had served the king in such a manner. And the King will reply, "Whatever you did to the least of these my brothers, you did to me." There is a tremendous parallel between Isaiah 58 and Matthew 25 that they are certainly tied together. The self-denial of the true fast and the servant-attitude of the righteous in these two texts speak of a proper inclination towards God and others. 

            Fasting does not create faith, for faith grows in us as we hear, read, and dwell upon God’s Word; it is a work of the Holy Spirit to bring faith to God’s people. However, fasting can potentially encourage faith by reminding us that we need God more than we need food. 

            Jesus talked about rewards for fasting in his sermon, but he did not elaborate on what those rewards were. Isaiah gives us a fuller picture of what fasting benefits us in verses 8-9. The blessings of a true fast are:

1) A new perspective on life (“your light shall break forth”)

2) Personal, spiritual healing (“your healing shall spring up”)

3) The security of God’s presence (righteousness and glory)

4) A free-flowing relationship with the LORD (“Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer…”)

 

Fasting is not easy. We are quite accustomed to three meals a day plus snacks. To go without food, even one day, is a challenge for us foodies. 

            Perhaps you have been challenged by this teaching and would like to consider incorporating a fast with your prayers. What do you do? How do you get into fasting? Here are a few suggestions:

1) Start small – Jesus fasted for 40 days; I don’t recommend trying to compete with the Lord. Start with one meal – skip one meal a week for several weeks. Then try two meals, working your way up to a day of no meals. Make it a juice fast and be sure to include water to keep you hydrated.

2) Make a plan – If you enter a fast and do not plan how you will respond to hunger, you will merely end up thinking about food all day. Whenever your stomach reminds you of food, use that as a reminder to pray. Think of the suffering of Jesus and consider your own discomfort in light of his. Use what would otherwise be a mealtime for concentrated prayer.

3) Consider how it will affect others – Fasting is not an excuse to be grumpy or inconsiderate. As Isaiah revealed, the Jews thought it was okay to treat others like garbage because they felt bad while fasting. If you have a regular mealtime with family or friends, it’s okay to let them know why you are missing a scheduled meal. There’s no need to sit at the table and watch others eat while you fast. 

4) Try different kinds of fasting – We have talked about personal, private fasting, but there are times when corporate, congregational fasting is in order. Jesus fasted before choosing the twelve apostles; a church may call a fast before electing a pastor or committee leaders. When a church faces a crisis, fasting and prayer are an appropriate response as we seek to repent of some offense or try to find a way forward. 

5) Fast from something other than food – If you have a health condition like diabetes, fasting from food is not possible. Fast from something else. Sharon and I fasted from TV during the fifty days of Lent a few Easters ago. That was hard. Martin Lloyd-Jones said, “Fasting should really be made to include abstinence from anything which is legitimate in and of itself for the sake of some special spiritual purpose.” Give up social media or playing on your cell phone to bend your heart towards Jesus. 

6) Don’t focus on your stomach – When your stomach says, “feed me,” don’t let your mind dwell on the fact that you haven’t eaten. You can power through and make it to the end of your fast and say “I did it” but not gain anything from it except a hatred of fasting. Our fasting is meant to turn our hearts toward Jesus and his kingdom. It seeks to take the pangs of hunger and turn them into an eternal anthem as we wrestle with sin, pray for others, or long for more of Jesus. 

            Is there spiritual merit to fasting? When our hearts are turned to Jesus…absolutely!

 

                                                            AMEN

 

** The six suggestions are adapted from David Mathis, executive director of desiringGod.org

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/fasting-for-beginners