Ever wonder why deliberately abstaining from food for a time is called a fast? Because we hope that we are fast to arrive at the end abstaining so we can eat again. (Sorry for the dad joke). But the topic today isn’t about how or when to fast, but our attitude and demeanor when we fast (or do other Kingdom service).
In a continuation of a theme, Jesus taught, “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16–18, CSB) Jesus previously used a similar construction concerning prayer and giving.
Like prayer and giving, fasting is a good and desirable spiritual exercise. The hunger and desire we experience during a fast reminds us of how hungry we should be for Jesus and His Word. But like the two previous examples, Jesus points out that if we make of show of it, then we miss out on a larger blessing.
We can and should apply this principle to anything we do in the Kingdom life of serving God. Doing something doesn’t make you special in God’s Kingdom. Being a pastor, worship leader, or spiritual leader are wonderful callings, but if we put on an air of specialness, we have received our reward in full. In the Kingdom, all are valued. The person who sweeps the floor is just as important in the Kingdom as the one that teaches. Why is that? Because teachers couldn’t do what they do apart from God’s impartation in their lives.
Regardless of our spiritual exercise, are we drawing attention to ourselves or bringing glory to God? The purpose of doing prayer, giving, and fasting in secret isn’t to keep it hidden from the world but to focus our activity on God. Whenever we do these, we must ask ourselves, who is the audience? Is it the people around us, or is it God? Sometimes it’s both, but in the Jesus Way of Kingdom Life, it should never be only people.
The Book of Hebrews closes with a prayer that is appropriate to the moment. This is our prayer today for you. “Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20–21, CSB)
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