FASTING AND FRUGALITY

"Stop trying to impress people with your clothes and impress them with your life." -Richard Foster, "Freedom of Simplicity"

Abbot Agatho, one of the desert fathers, frequently admonished his disciple, saying: “Never acquire for yourself anything that you might hesitate to give to your brother if he asked you for it, for thus you would be found a transgressor of God's command. If anyone asks, give it to him, and if anyone wants to borrow from you, do not turn away from him.”

Fasting and frugality are two spiritual disciplines that our culture will not make easy for us. In fact, the messages of almost every commercial urge us to eat more, buy more, eat more, buy more…

In this section, we will explore the why and the how of fasting and frugality-two practices that will bring us incredible freedom and open our lives to God's great work of making us more like Jesus.

FASTING: FINDING FOOD THAT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD

What is fasting for?

The primary purpose of this practice is for focusing on God. Early on in this practice, the pangs of hunger may serve as reminders to focus our hearts on God. As we develop in this practice, fasting will result in an increasing spiritual sensitivity. We will be more "tuned in" to the Spirit's leading. We will be more aware of our own inner condition. We will be more aware of the needs of others.

When Jesus was fasting in the desert he was tempted to turn stones into loaves of bread, but he said, "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Another time, Jesus' disciples urged Jesus to eat some food (here, Jesus was not said to be fasting), he responded, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about…My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish the work" (John 4:32,34). In abstaining from food and/or drink, we discover an alternative source of strength.

As we focus on the character and presence of God instead of food, our character will be revealed to us. We will have a heightened spiritual awareness not only of God, but of our own hearts. As Richard Foster writes, "Anger, bitterness, jealousy, strife, fear-if they are within us, they will surface during fasting." This is a benefit to us because with these things revealed, they can also be addressed.

What isn't fasting for?

Fasting is not commanded. Jesus said, "When you fast…" (Matthew 6:16). As with any discipline, there is the danger to turn it into law. It is, nevertheless, assumed to be a normal part of the life of the disciple.

Fasting is not for impressing others. Jesus essentially said, "When you fast, don't make a big show of it." It does not make you superior to others.

Fasting is not magic. The teaching of some may imply that fasting can be used to influence God to act. We do not go on hunger strikes to force God's hand-that is an attempt to manipulate God. Neither do we need to make extravagant pleas to move Him to action (Consider the parable of widow and judge in Luke 18:2-8; also Jesus teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:7-8 and 7:7-12). Fasting is not to try to get God to change his mind, but to help us "see more clearly" what God is doing.

How do we fast?

1) Keep your focus – keep reminding yourself the purpose of fasting - Your body will argue (grumbling, weakness, headaches), but don't let those things distract you from your goal. Allow them to serve as reminders to pray or to be still before God.

2) Start out small. Take baby steps into it by fasting one or two meals, one day a week. Then you may increase that as is appropriate.

3) Meditate on Jesus' teaching and practice of fasting along with related Scriptures. Read Matthew 4:1-11, 6:16-18, 9:15; John 4:42-34; Luke 12:22-34; Phil 3:19; Rom 16:17-18; 1 Cor 6:12-13).

FRUGALITY: APPROPRIATE SMALLNESS IN A BIGGER-BETTER WORLD

What is frugality?

Frugality is not stinginess. Frugality is not buying only sale-items. It is not wearing suits or dresses until they disintegrate. The practice of frugality is about removing our desire for status, glamour, and luxury. It is primarily concerned with our attitudes toward money or goods or food.

Frugality goes completely against the grain of our culture that is so obsessed with "the pursuit of pleasure". Practicing frugality means that we reject the notion that we need such things to make our lives fulfilled. We practice frugality so that our resources (time, energy, thoughts) may be devoted to seeking and serving God, instead of impressing others and gratifying ourselves.

Why do we need to practice frugality?

Consider how much of our time is spent on doing things to impress others or to serve our own desires. We spend so much time on indifferent things-things that really do not matter.

We need to practice frugality because we live in a culture that tells us that we need the bigger, the better, and the faster-and not only do we need them, we deserve them! We need to un-learn the patterns of self-indulgence. Frugality is the painful path that reminds us of how selfish and materialistic we have become.

We need to practice frugality because we live in a culture of waste. Incalculable tons of garbage is 'produced' each day. About 70 percent of all the metal we use is used only once. Most of what we use is thrown away.

We need to practice frugality because we live in a world where a billion people survive on less than ten rupees a day. What is your daily budget? By our wasteful and self-indulgent lifestyles we are contributing to the poverty and starvation around the world.

Don't feel guilty, feel responsible, and do something about it.

Frugality is about investment of time, of money, of thought, and of energy. We refrain from spending them on indifferent things so that we may be free to spend them on things that are eternal. Does this remind you of any Scripture? Meditate on Matthew 6:19-34, 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

How do we practice frugality?

As with every spiritual practice, there are no rules to follow. However, the following suggestions may be helpful as you find appropriate ways to apply them where necessary.

1) Inventory. Go through your house/room and take a note of what is necessary and what is luxury.

For each luxury, ask yourself,

- Would I be willing to give this up if God asked me to?

-Could (the time, energy, thought, and money I spent acquiring this) this have been invested in better ways?

Ask God,

 - how He would have you use these luxuries.

- if He would have you give any or all of them up. If you are convinced that He is asking you to rid yourself of them (after listening in prayer, study, and consultation with a trusted mature Christian friend), then get rid of them in the most appropriate manner.

2) Re-Consider. If you have been considering a major purchase, submit it (again?) to God in prayer. Search out your motives for buying it (Is it to have the latest and greatest? To keep up with so and so? To cater to your spoiled appetite? Or is it to serve others in some way?).

3) Re-Schedule. Go through your daily schedule and make a note of what percentage of your thoughts are spent dwelling on indifferent things.

-Commit yourself to refrain from spending inappropriate amounts of time thinking about things that really do not matter.

-Ask God to help you bring your thoughts under His guidance.

-Ask God to help you "take every thought captive for Christ."

4) Consider your diet and note how much you concern yourself with food. Are you spending inappropriate amounts of time or money here?