spiritual disciplines lesson 3 : fasting and frugality

Once two brethren came to a certain elder whose custom it was not to eat every day. But when he saw the brethren he invited them with joy to dine with him saying: Fasting has its reward, but he who eats out of charity fulfils two commandments, for he sets aside his own will and he refreshes his hungry brethren.
-from"Wisdom of the Desert: Translations from the 'Verba Seniorum,'" by Thomas Merton.

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

Abbot Agatho 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 form you, do not turn away from him.
-from"Wisdom of the Desert: Translations from the 'Verba Seniorum,'" by Thomas Merton
 

Two Stories of Spiritual Foundering
Joe had almost done it. It was 11:51pm and he had gone the whole day without eating. It was his first attempt at fasting, but at that moment all that was on his mind was: "Should I wait until after midnight to order the pizza or can I order it now-since it wouldn't be ready until after midnight anyway?"
To this day, Joe doesn't remember what he decided to do, but he does remember that the pizza was delicious!

Lenny had just come back from hearing the missionary speak of the horrible poverty where he served. The pictures of the children with torn, worn, and re-worn clothes had made an impact on him. In fact is such that when he opened his closet and saw his piles and piles of clothes-many of which he rarely wore-he decided to give his excess away to Goodwill.
The next morning Lenny woke up and set himself to the task of dividing up his laundry between the essentials and the excess. After going through his piles of clothes, he had decided that he would give up all the clothes he did not wear every week. The pile was substantial. Later, Lenny congratulated himself on his sacrifice as he dropped off the bags to Goodwill.
On the way home, Lenny saw a sale sign at his favorite clothing store.
Lenny walked in the door of his home with two pair of new blue jeans, three shirts, six pair of socks (they were 3 for $8!), and a new pair of shoes.

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.

If you recall, one reason for practicing spiritual disciplines is to eliminate the things that keep us from experiencing the fullness of life in God. Through this practice of abstaining from food and/or drink, God can break our bondage to satisfying ourselves. Fasting reveals the things that control us.

From time to time, I unintentionally fast from eating chocolate (it is unintentional because there is just none around!). When I finish a meal, I enjoy a small bit of chocolate. But when there is no chocolate, I realize how much I am imprisoned by it. This is not an example of a discipline, but it is, nonetheless, very revealing.

Fasting will, however, reveal much more than our dependence on food. 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 (as the story in the beginning of this section illustrates). But we must not make it so. As Paul said, "The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Cor 3:6). That said, 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." If you fast, it does not make you superior to others. In fact, if you think yourself better than others because of it, that will only display your spiritual poverty.

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. As you begin the practice of fasting it will be important to keep reminding yourself of 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 (allow me to direct you to Richard Foster's book, Celebration of Discipline. His chapter on fasting has some very practical guidance).

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).

Resources on Fasting:
Richard Foster, "Celebration of Discipline"
David R. Smith, "Fasting: A Neglected Discipline"
 

Frugality: Appropriate Smallness in a Bigger-Better World

What is frugality?

Frugality is not stinginess. It is not penny-pinching. 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 happiness"-which today means comfort and indulgence, pampering and pleasure, luxury, and leisure. 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. As for other people, they do not think about us as much as we worry about what they think of us. As for our desires, often when we obtain them, we are too busy considering the next thing to enjoy them.

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 that we have practiced for so many years. 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 are 'produced' each day. About 70 percent of all the metal we use is used only once. Most of what we use is thrown away. Most people have enough food rotting in their refrigerators and cupboards to feed many third world families for several weeks.

We need to practice frugality because we live in a world where a billion people survive on less than a dollar a day. How much do you 'survive' on each day? 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.

If you were to inventory your life, how much of your time, thoughts, and energies are spent on indifferent things? How much of your life do you spend trying to find the perfect color of paint for a bathroom? The perfect tie for a new suit? The perfect dessert to go with a particular entrée? The perfect gift for a friend (one that will result in showers of gratitude and admiration)? How much of your life do you spend following the lives of celebrities or the storylines of television programs?

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? Maybe I can direct you to 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 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?
-Ask yourself, Could the time, energy, thought, and money I spent acquiring this have been invested in better ways?
-Ask God how He would have you use these luxuries.
-Ask God 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 the Jones's? 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?

Resources on Frugality and Simplicity:
Richard Foster, "Freedom of Simplicity"
Ronald Sider, "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger"
Francis Florand, "Stages of Simplicity"
Arthur Gish, "Beyond the Rat Race"