Peripatetics: The Art of Walking
Monday, May 09, 2005
It was my very first small group discipleship group.
I was growing in my relationship with God and learning the ropes of teaching others how to do the same. And since I really believe that the starting place of following Christ is found in the Sermon on the Mount, that's where we started our study of Scripture.
Then we came to Matthew 6: 16-18.
"And whenever you fast, do no put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, annoint your head, and wash your face so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you."
Like I said before this bunch was serious about their growth in Christ, so they said, "Maybe we should have a 'fast.' I mean, it doesn't say IF you fast, it says WHEN you fast. That pretty much means we're supposed to be doing it."
And they were right. It does say that. Jesus pretty much assumed this would be part of the walk with Him.
Unfortunately, I was too young in ministry to lead them to ask a couple of more questions...like WHAT a fast consists of, and WHY they might want to undertake it. Nope. I was too "green." A rookie. We were at that point in the text, so we decided that we should just do it.
We pretty much knew that a fast was giving up food and drink. And we knew that Jesus had done one for 40 days before He began His public ministry...but we weren't quite ready for that, nor were we undertaking a redemptive ministry for the world, either. So we decided to start a bit smaller...like 24 hours without food and drink.
Other than that, my only guidance to them was that maybe they should keep a journal of the things we thought about during the day...and we'd get together for a dinner the next day to share those thoughts with each other.
It really didn't seem all that complicated.
Sure, during the day, we all got a bit legalistic about it. They were adamant that we shouldn't tell anyone what we were up to, but every now and then one of them would slip up and talk about what they learned at Bible study and tell somebody what we were doing. I got a phone call from one kid during the day because he wanted to know if the fact he "accidentally took a sip from the water fountain" wrecked the fast. I know that I didn't get much work done because I was so busy writing stuff in my journal for the dinner that I never really got on track with what I was supposed to be doing that day.
And when it was over, we spent more time talking about how hungry we were than sharing what we learned.
I guess what we learned was that fasting should be part of the spiritual life, and that doing it has it's own set of difficulties associated with it. Later, I had them look up fasting (because we obviously didn't "do it" right) so maybe we could be more informed about it.
They came to the conclusion, after their research, that Jesus was talking about abstaining from food and drink for a pre-determined duration of time. They also came across modern forms of fasting that might involve doing without something like television, radios/music, going to movies, eating certain types of food and things like that.
They were pretty sure that what you were supposed to do is give up something meaningful to get in tune with God...and that it should be a part of your spiritual life.
And you know what?
In the simplicity of that, they were correct. It's a meaningful denial of a desire, designed to focus on Him (so that when it isn't there and you think about it, you're supposed to direct your thoughts to Him) and make your walk more meaningful.
Tomorrow, I'll share a bit more of what else they learned...because I still haven't addressed the question of "why" we should be making this discipline a part of our lives.
But for today, have you ever fasted? What was difficult about it? What did your fast consist of? Do you think this discipline has been neglected by the church these days? If so, why?
Brent 7:20 AM
Comments:
Since this is the only time I have to post a comment, I'll have to comment on the whole Sunday School study in this.
I want to say, yes I've fasted, but particularly, from playing the game Halo. I was playing the Internet first person shooter for 3 weeks straight. 30 min to 1 hour before school, and, average of 5 hours after school, 12 hours the first Saturday, 7 hours on Sunday. One morning, I got tired of it, and pulled out God's Word on my computer and read and studied a Proverb for the first time in forever. Playing Halo is not a bad thing, its when you get "hooked" and it becomes a god. Praise God for breaking me from Halo!
Fasting doesn't necessarily have to be about food or drink. It can even be, I'm sure, your time spent in something, extra hours in a job, on a computer, on a game (he he), or even schedule.
I don't have the study sheet with me, so I don't remeber what's next. However, I do remember something about treasures and the story about the man who asked Jesus about entering the Kingdom of God. Jesus' reply was to "keep the commandments". The man replied, "I have done these things from when I was young". (from my youth up) Then Jesus replies, "Then sell all that you have, and give the money to the poor, and follow me." His reply? He was grieved and said no way. Christ looked at him and said, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kindom of God" Where your treasures are, there your heart will be also. That's right, I remember now. You cannot serve "God and mammon (money, stuff)" God, or stuff. Look at what you spend your money on. This can, I'm sure, relate to anything not of God. Just REMEMBER, God has told us "Whatsoever your hands find to do, do it with all your might." So, if you have a paper your working on, to bring up your grades, I'm sure you don't have to fast on that. Just anything your overly obsesed over.
Then I remember giving. Brent taught a concept I give full praise and support on: Tithing, is NOT a requirement of the Christian. I'm very sure God expects us to do it, but there is NO commandment that we are to do it. Otherwise, it wouldn't be an offering. It also wouldn't be considered a gift either. In fact, in the church of Macedonia BEGGED Paul and considered it a FAVOR to give to him. If Paul, writer of many of the epistles to the churches made it clear that tithing was a necessary thing, and he stressed it, why would the Masadonians BEG him to give for his ministry? (2 Cor. 8) You might find this an interesting chapter to study, even at a glance. Now then, it also comes to my understanding that the hypocrites in Christ's time blew a trumpet and gave their money in large amounts for all to see, but he asks us to do this in secret, for their reward is in full. (Personally) I don't like the passing of plates for the offering. I understand that way of receiving the offering makes a LOT more money than the simple method of letting people drop into an offering box (believe me, I know. I attended a church who did not pass the plate, and they did not receive a whole lot and were many times under the necessary payment, and people STILL didn't give, at least, not that way. Somehow, they still exist, and have even moved into a larger building after only a few years.) Oh yeah! Giving of alms is to be something between you and God.
Tying it all together
It really makes sense to say that all three subjects relate, and all three "disciplines" relate, to a very great degree. I am sure that giving money is not the only way you can "tithe". And what better way to tie up Matthew Chapter 6 from the Sermon on the Mount than with verse 33.
"But seek first His kingdom and His rightousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Many people, too many, take a single verse, and rip it out of the text and slap it on stickers, preach sermons, and such and such. However, from reading the WHOLE text, it really makes more sense. Also, verse 34 says:
"Therefore do not be anxious for tommorrow; for tommorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
6:1 also says: "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven."
What does verse 33 say? Yup. Sometimes, the very feeling of accomplishment (maybe when you break from something such as fasting) is a reward in itself. You don't even get that when you put forth your deeds before men.
Everything is between you and God. Your relationship, your stuff, your money, your time, yourself, your other relationships, your ministry, and the list, I'm sure, goes on. Even your success. By fasting, giving, and knowing where your heart lies, you can keep check of the things that can over rule your life with God. God is love. Give, fast, and grow in your relationship with God and others, with love. God also gives wisdom. He has led me to give back to you this wisdom. Thank you for your time in reading this.
Post a Comment
I want to say, yes I've fasted, but particularly, from playing the game Halo. I was playing the Internet first person shooter for 3 weeks straight. 30 min to 1 hour before school, and, average of 5 hours after school, 12 hours the first Saturday, 7 hours on Sunday. One morning, I got tired of it, and pulled out God's Word on my computer and read and studied a Proverb for the first time in forever. Playing Halo is not a bad thing, its when you get "hooked" and it becomes a god. Praise God for breaking me from Halo!
Fasting doesn't necessarily have to be about food or drink. It can even be, I'm sure, your time spent in something, extra hours in a job, on a computer, on a game (he he), or even schedule.
I don't have the study sheet with me, so I don't remeber what's next. However, I do remember something about treasures and the story about the man who asked Jesus about entering the Kingdom of God. Jesus' reply was to "keep the commandments". The man replied, "I have done these things from when I was young". (from my youth up) Then Jesus replies, "Then sell all that you have, and give the money to the poor, and follow me." His reply? He was grieved and said no way. Christ looked at him and said, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kindom of God" Where your treasures are, there your heart will be also. That's right, I remember now. You cannot serve "God and mammon (money, stuff)" God, or stuff. Look at what you spend your money on. This can, I'm sure, relate to anything not of God. Just REMEMBER, God has told us "Whatsoever your hands find to do, do it with all your might." So, if you have a paper your working on, to bring up your grades, I'm sure you don't have to fast on that. Just anything your overly obsesed over.
Then I remember giving. Brent taught a concept I give full praise and support on: Tithing, is NOT a requirement of the Christian. I'm very sure God expects us to do it, but there is NO commandment that we are to do it. Otherwise, it wouldn't be an offering. It also wouldn't be considered a gift either. In fact, in the church of Macedonia BEGGED Paul and considered it a FAVOR to give to him. If Paul, writer of many of the epistles to the churches made it clear that tithing was a necessary thing, and he stressed it, why would the Masadonians BEG him to give for his ministry? (2 Cor. 8) You might find this an interesting chapter to study, even at a glance. Now then, it also comes to my understanding that the hypocrites in Christ's time blew a trumpet and gave their money in large amounts for all to see, but he asks us to do this in secret, for their reward is in full. (Personally) I don't like the passing of plates for the offering. I understand that way of receiving the offering makes a LOT more money than the simple method of letting people drop into an offering box (believe me, I know. I attended a church who did not pass the plate, and they did not receive a whole lot and were many times under the necessary payment, and people STILL didn't give, at least, not that way. Somehow, they still exist, and have even moved into a larger building after only a few years.) Oh yeah! Giving of alms is to be something between you and God.
Tying it all together
It really makes sense to say that all three subjects relate, and all three "disciplines" relate, to a very great degree. I am sure that giving money is not the only way you can "tithe". And what better way to tie up Matthew Chapter 6 from the Sermon on the Mount than with verse 33.
"But seek first His kingdom and His rightousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Many people, too many, take a single verse, and rip it out of the text and slap it on stickers, preach sermons, and such and such. However, from reading the WHOLE text, it really makes more sense. Also, verse 34 says:
"Therefore do not be anxious for tommorrow; for tommorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
6:1 also says: "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven."
What does verse 33 say? Yup. Sometimes, the very feeling of accomplishment (maybe when you break from something such as fasting) is a reward in itself. You don't even get that when you put forth your deeds before men.
Everything is between you and God. Your relationship, your stuff, your money, your time, yourself, your other relationships, your ministry, and the list, I'm sure, goes on. Even your success. By fasting, giving, and knowing where your heart lies, you can keep check of the things that can over rule your life with God. God is love. Give, fast, and grow in your relationship with God and others, with love. God also gives wisdom. He has led me to give back to you this wisdom. Thank you for your time in reading this.
