"Self-indulgence is the enemy of gratitude, and self-discipline usually its friend and generator. That is why gluttony is a deadly sin. The early desert fathers believed that a person's appetites are linked: full stomachs and jaded palates take the edge from our hunger and thirst for righteousness. They spoil the appetite for God." Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.
I have rewritten the first sentence for this post seven times in an effort to say something witty or at least light-hearted about fasting. But, the fact is, I (and probably many others) do not like the idea of fasting. I am actually quite comfortable with my routine eating habits, and sadly this probably corresponds to my contentment in other areas of my life. To me, fasting seems more difficult than the other disciplines. It is completely counter-cultural because American culture tells us that our priority should be to make ourselves comfortable and happy. In many ways, I have bought into the lie that my earthly contentment is important and necessary, but I have yet to find this in Scripture. The blessings God promises us are eternal. Obviously, He also gives us earthly blessings, but they should point to Him. It is ridiculous for me to place my trust and my joy in earthly things since all I have is what God has given me. James 1: 16-17 says, "Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." The focus of the gift is not the gift; the gift points me to God. I have not earned anything that I have, so I must thank God for it and find my satisfaction in Him alone.
All of this does have something to do with fasting. In Dr. Whitney's session, he talked about the fact that fasting is expected just as prayer is (Mt. 6:16-17, Mt. 9:15). Jesus assumes that his disciples will fast. So, we should fast because God says we should, and when we fast we should fast for a purpose. We are, in a sense, showing God that we are serious about Him or about our request. We are telling God that He is more important than our food. And is this not the way is should be? God, our Father, is more important that food. He should be our sustenance and our satisfaction.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heave, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."
John 6: 53-58
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