what is consuming me?

Matthew 6:16 says "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward."

Jane Larsen-Wigger preached on this last week noting:

I don’t know if you caught it or not, but in these words of Jesus that we just heard, the one little word that catches me up is his use of the word ‘when.’  Jesus says “WHEN you fast . . .”  Not “IF you fast . . .”  but WHEN.

Fasting is a tough one. So easy to come up with reasons why I shouldn't.

"I'm too skinny."
"I need my energy for ____"
"I'm going to this picnic tomorrow."
"It's not going to make me any holier."
And so on...

Jane reminded us that fasting is not the end; rather, fasting is a tool to get us past ourselves and beyond the many distractions -

Another thing that is interesting in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is that after talking about fasting, Jesus goes on to talk about things that get in the way of trusting God: earthly treasures, trying to serve both God and wealth; excessive worrying, judging others, profaning the holy.

 

Hmmm, maybe this part of his sermon points to why fasting is important—or maybe he’s suggesting some of what we could fast from: earthly treasures, other masters, worry, judging, disrespect, profaning the holy.

 

There are things—plenty of things—besides food that we can fast from.  In a chapter on Fasting, Marjorie Thompson suggests we ask ourselves: “What is consuming me?  Possessing me?  What do I do to excess?”

Good questions for me, you and fellow Americans who, with 5% of the global population, consume more than 20% of its resources.

Whatever that is, chances are that it is getting in the way of a relationship of trust with the Living God.

So the world suffers as do we...  Read the rest of Jane's sermon.

Global Food Crisis fast website