Matthew Costner

Part Three of the “Livin’ the Dream” series was on fasting. Below is a recap:

I know that most of you ARE NOT LIVING THE DREAM. Things may be going good, and there may not be any major “wants” in your life, but you aren’t living the “dream.” You know as well as I know that things could be better.

Truly “Livin’ the Dream” doesn’t include big houses, fancy cars, and designer clothes. It’s not a life only for professional athletes, movie stars, and corporate executives. It’s a life for all of us who are followers of Christ. I’ve mentioned it before but John 10:10 states that, “The thief (enemy) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they (you) may have life, and have it to the full.” We CAN live the dream.

But that means we must pursue Christ. We must make Christ a part of which we are, part of the very fabric of who we are. The spiritual disciplines aid us in this process. “Fasting” is one of those disciplines. Jesus talked about “fasting,” and the Gospel of Matthew has what He said. Matthew 6: 16-18 states, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

If we look at that Scripture in its context, it seems to indicate that fasting is as much a part of the Christian life as giving and praying (Right before our text Jesus talks about prayer, right after tithing). But interesting enough Jesus says, “when you fast,” not “if.” Is He then commanding us to fast? I really don’t think so. Jesus was teaching a group of people who commonly practiced fasting. For instance, most of the Jews fasted twice a week. So, although Jesus didn’t say, “you must” fast, he did say, “when you fast.” What does this mean to us? It seems obvious to me that Jesus assumed that his followers would make fasting a part of their life if they wanted to remain spiritually healthy. He wouldn’t have to say you must fast if fasting was understood. Right? I mean I don’t have to say you must brush your teeth to be healthy. But I can say when you brush your teeth because it is obvious that to live life healthily you will brush your teeth. The same would have been true with fasting in Jesus day – it was understood that fasting was what people did.

Most of us here share a deep desire to be more intimate, more devoted to God. But something gets in the way of that devotion doesn’t it? I mean, truth be told, the desire we all have to give our hearts to God is shared with our desire for other things – our spouses, our children, sports and entertainment, going to the movies, going out to eat, people watching, etc. One of my favorite pastor’s, John Piper, states, “the weakness of our hunger for God is not because He is unsavory but because we keep ourselves stuffed with other things.” In other words, we are so full on food & entertainment that we have no appetite left for God.

For example, I can spend all day long cleaning the house, washing the dishes, and washing and folding clothes for Alyson, that if I’m not too careful I can be so tired of doing things for her, that I am too tired to spend time with her.
Fasting is that discipline which tries to recapture our hunger for God. It says to God, I am willing to forgo anything in order to be in your presence. It provides an atmosphere where we are prepared to face up to the dulling effects of food and all those things that we continually nibble on. It says that although we love all the wonderful gifts in our lives, we love the Giver so much more.

As we “fast” we get to know the Giver. As we “fast” we understand what it means that Jesus is the bread of life and the spring of living water – without Him we truly can’t survive.