GOD REWARDS THE MODEST-Part Three

Steven Garofalo M.A.A.  (Copyright 2025)

January 20, 2025

In the United States and countries around the world it is considered a “GOOD” thing to bring attention to ourselves and self-promote an self-image, albeit good or bad. This is no-more evident than in social media platforms, marketing and sales.

Today, I am going to show you through the words of Jesus himself in the Book of Matthew that to bring attention to oneself gains an early, earthly reward, but forfeits God’s reward for us. Let’s get started.

This is Part three of “When God Rewards Us” series. In part one, we spoke to when God rewards us through our “giving” or almsgiving. In part two, we spoke to when God rewards us in and through “prayer”, and today, we will address when God rewards us through “fasting”. Before we get started, let’s define our terms.

WHAT IS FASTING?

Religious practices: Fasting is a common practice in many religions, including Christianity and Islam. Fasting is a regular part of Islamic practice in that fasting is encouraged during the holy month of Ramadan. In Christianity, fasting is more of an individual choice than a formal practice or sacrament of the faith.

Intermittent Fasting: Then there is Intermittent fasting which is way of life more so than an eating plan. As such, it is an eating plan whereby a person eats within a short window of time and then ceases to intake food for longer periods of time. I personally eat breakfast between 5:30-6:00am, lunch around 9am and then eat my last meal at about 1:30-2:00pm. I don’t eat until the next morning. Research shows that intermittent fasting helps with brain clarity and is a great way to manage your weight, and can even prevent and in some cases, even reverse some forms of disease.

AN AI OVERVIEW

In the Christian faith, fasting is the practice of voluntarily abstaining from food or other enjoyable things for a spiritual purpose: 

• Expressing commitment: Fasting is a way to show God that you are committed to pursuing him.
• Offering a sacrifice: Fasting is a way to praise God and offer him a sacrifice.
• Intensifying prayer: Fasting can help you focus and pray more clearly.
• Growing in faith: Fasting is a spiritual discipline that can help you grow in your faith.
• Denying yourself: Fasting is a way to declare that you know God is most important, not you.

Fasting can take many forms and last different lengths of time. Some examples of Christian fasting include: 

• Liturgical fasting: Abstaining from certain foods during liturgical periods, such as Lent 
• The Daniel fast: Consuming only water and vegetables, as described in Daniel 1:12 
• The Jesus fast: Consuming only water, as described in Matthew 4:1–2 
• Partial fasts: Giving up specific items, like caffeine, or fasting during certain times of the day 

Fasting is often combined with prayer. It can be a way to: Express repentance, Seek a deeper connection with God, Pursue answers to life's decisions, Demonstrate the depth of your desire when praying, and Release God's supernatural power.[i]

THE PLACE OF FASTING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

In an article titled, “The Placing of Fasting in the Christian Life” By Thomas A. Tarrants on June 6, 2018 Knowing and Doing, Knowing & Doing 2018 Summer, Thomas A. Tarrants, Tarrants writes that:Judging from recent research and anecdotal evidence, it appears that very few professing Christians in America think fasting has a place in the Christian life. Available evidence shows that we much prefer feasting! Yet from the earliest days of the church, fasting has been recognized as an important way to draw near to God, deepen one’s relationship with Him, and seek His help in times of special need. Nearly all of the great spiritual leaders of the church, as well as ordinary believers who have been noted for their devotion to God, have practiced fasting. If you desire a deeper, more intimate and fruitful relationship with God, or if you need His help in a time of real need, fasting is an important means of grace to practice.

This article will provide helpful understanding and practical guidance for anyone who wants to experience this blessing. The best place to start is with a definition of fasting. In the Old Testament, the main Hebrew word used is tsom, which means “to abstain from food.” In the New Testament, the Greek word we translate as “fast” is nesteuo, which means “to abstain from eating.” In both testaments, fasting is simply going without food in order to seek God for some special reason. Although the purposes for which we seek God may vary, going without food does not. This is an important distinction, because today there is a tendency to expand the word fasting to include things other than food, such as television, movies, internet, social media, or cell phones. Although it is certainly right to abstain from any number of things that are hindering our relationship with God, that is not what the Bible means by fasting. Such abstaining is better described as “saying no” to some form of worldliness or harmful fleshly indulgence. To reiterate, in the Bible, the word fasting means going without food, the purpose of which is to earnestly seek God in prayer. People unacquainted with fasting may not see any compelling reason to do it…” [ii]

SO WHAT!

This begs the question as to when God may or may not reward us through prayer. Our truth text today is a short passage found in Matthews 6:16-18 which says this:

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:16-18)

TAKE AWAYS

1)  When you “FAST” do not look gloomy. WHY? Because it’s hypocritical to voluntarily sacrifice to God through fasting and then show everyone how pious you are. “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the HYPOCRITES, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others”. The pharisees “disfigure their faces” because they wanted everyone to know they were fasting, so they did not wash or trim their hair and sometimes put ashes on their heads to make further evident that they were fasting.

2)  CONSEQUENCE OF LOST REWARDS: Jesus makes clear in the second half of verse 16 that, “Truth I say to you, they HAVE RECEIVED THEIR REWARD”. In other words, to draw attention to the fact that you are fasting gets you worldly credit as to one’s pious sacrifice, but the reward is received through human affirmation and acclamation-forfeiting God’s reward in light of receiving human reward.

3)  HOW TO FAST PROPERLY: In verse 17 and 18, Jesus goes on to explain how to FAST PROPERLY, saying: “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you”. In other words when we fast, we should go out of our way to look as if we are not fasting, knowing that we do so for God who sees what we are doing as opposed to other humans who should not know about what we are doing (our sacrifice) in terms of fasting.

CONCLUSION

“When you fast” is a reference to fasting prescribed under the Mosaic Lw in connection with the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29) and the voluntary fast of that day. The Pharisees added two fasting days, on Monday and Thursday of each week as a case of public display and piety. The true purpose of fasting was intended, however, for deep contrition and spiritual communion with God. Fasting was especially emphasized as an effective means of dealing with temptation (Isaiah 58:6). The pharisees regarded the practice of fasting as meritorious and appeared in the synagogues negligently attired to draw attention to themselves. Their sad disfigurement of face, ashes on forehead, and the wearing of morning garb gave them a sinful opportunity “exhibit” the personification of a superior ascetic position or sanctity before the regular people.

In the end, we should all work towards gaining a handle on some form of fasting. WHY? First, its biblical. Second, it draws us closer to God. Third, it trains our bodies, hearts and minds to combat “temptations”. I can tell you firsthand that I no longer crave meals when I haven’t eaten for some time. I tend to eat more on a schedule as opposed to feeling like I am going to starve if I haven’t eaten in 8 hours. This is what I want to leave you with-the challenge to begin the process of fasting. Start slow and with shorter increments of time and work your way to longer periods of fasting in light of dependents and communing with God. In the end, you will benefit physically, mentaly, and spiritually. Blessings-Steven

How often are we scared, ashamed or shy-failing to share our faith when we know we should. Our modern world is very similiar to the day when the Apostle Paul walked the streets of Corinth with a bold faith. Using Paul as our example, let’s worry more about living out the true message of the Cross and a lot less about what people think of us. 

THE DAYS OF CORINTH

During the Apostle Paul’s ministry, the city of Corinth, similar to many U.S. West and East Coast port (and non-port) cities was the most strategic city in Greece. Not even Athens was as strategic as Corinth during the time in history. This had to do in part with ships having to sail around Corinth and into some of the most dangerous waters in that part of the world. As a result, most ships avoided the waters by moving ships and cargo over land in one of two ways.

WAY #1: If it were a large ship, they would dock and move the cargo over land manually to a second ship parked on the other side.

WAY #2: If it were a smaller ship, they would move the entire ship over land to the other side.

As a result of being such a strategic location, there were upwards of 750,000 people living in Corinth at the time of Paul’s ministry. This takes us to Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians). 

1 Corinthians is a unique letter. Some call it Paul’s best sermon while others-his worst. The lesson in 1 Corinthians it simply that while we can RE-PACKAGE the message of the Gospel, it is an OFFENSE to the non-Authentic Christians of this world. It was an offense to the flesh in Paul's day and is the just the same to the people of the world today in the 21st Century. 

As a result of his reputation, Paul was invited to preach (in 1 Corinthians), trying to appeal to some of the world’s most highly educated, philosophically astute individuals. The people were wealthy, and self-reliant.

A RE-PACKAGED FAITH

Over the ages, the Word of God has (and cannot) change one iota, not a dot (Matthew 5:18). But, while God’s Word does not change, how we present it through the generations has. Sadly, in some cases, the re-packaged Gospel had left out the offense and power of the true Gospel message. 

PRESENTING THE GOSPEL WITH PROPERLY

When it comes to sharing Christ, we want to be loving, sensitive, gentile, relevant and respectful. But MOST of all, we want to be RELEVANT to the true message of Jesus Christ who went to the Cross for you, me and all who would receive Him.

THE CONSEQUENCE

When sharing your faith, people will at some point accuse you of being intolerant and judgmental. WHY? The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 4:10 whereby Paul says that we are considered fools for Christ for sharing the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “for the message of the Cross is foolishness for those who are perishing”. For the spiritually blind and dark, they will see our message as foolishness. But for those who seek God, He will open their eyes. Look at it God’s way-If someone considers you a fool for sharing Christ-at least you are in good company!

When we share the Gospel message we are often considered fools. It’s not the Gospel’s fault and it’s not God’s fault. The problem lies with the heart of the person you are talking with. Our message is not foolish-it’s the people who listen but fail to accept Christ who are foolish. 

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believers. To the Jew first, but also to the gentiles” (Romans 116).  

It’s in the uncompromising Gospel where the power of God resides. And its in the uncompromising Gospels is where the power to save and to change people’s  lives is.

So, let’s worry more about giving out the true message of the Cross and a lot less about what people think of us. If we do that, lives will changed and the world will never be the same-but for the better.

Is retirement biblical? Is it condoned in the Bible as a good, proper and rightful thing to do. Let's start by defining what "Retirement" is.

“RETIRMENT” can be defined as: “The action or fact of leaving one's job and ceasing to work”

As to what the Bible says about retirement, we have to look all the way back to “THE BEGIINING” of time and creation whereby God calls Adam to a life of “difficult work” (Genesis 3:19). Remember that Adam already worked in the Garden before he and Eve ate of the “Tree Of Knowlwdge”. What changed was that after they disobeyed God by eating of that fruit, that they were judged by God and subjected to a new life outside the Garden. That life entailed not having God’s provision and protection. From there forward, Adam would have to not only work, but work to provide for himself, “by the sweat of his face” (3:19) meaning hard work. People sweat when they work hard not when they don’t. This is what the Bible says.

“By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19)

This draws us back to ask the main question as to, “Is retirment biblical? I would submit that it depends by what you mean by retire, but generally speaking- no, it's not. Why? Let me list a few reasons why.

FIRST: Because God said so. God said that Adam would have to work by the sweat of his face until when? "Till you return to the ground". That means until Adam physically died on earth. As such, the same is true for you and I.

SECOND: Because to fully retire in many cases entails amassing government debt and making others work to pay for your retirement. This is not a biblical model. For example,  U.S. Federal workers under the Employee Retirement Systems (FERS) contribute only between 0.8% and 4.4% of their paycheck towards retirement. After they work 20-25 years, which is not a long time, they usulaly draw 75% or more of their normal paycheck in the form of a pension. They put in between 0.8-4.4% and take out 75%. For round numbers, if they make 100K in annual salary, they pay 9jnbetween $800.00 and in some cases, a maximum of $4,400.00 annually into their pention. Upon retirnment, they will withdraw $75,000.00 a year. No investment is good enough to meet those odds, so it falls upon the everyday tax payer to work and pay them through higher taxes not to work while paying even more taxes to pay a new, less experienced person to do the job they vacated. The government mandates that every day working people paying for these pensions. So no, I don't see this retirenment model as right or biblical as it means putting debt on our children, and mandates every day people who work hard at regular jobs to pay someone elses way. 

Then there is the private sector which is the more proper way to slow down in some form of retirnement. Sadly, our system is broken and there is little if any legitamate form of saving for retirnment. The Bond Market has been leveraged beyond it's capacity to pay a reasonable return and is being upheld by the U.S. Treasury Department who simply digitally prints more money and gives it to the Treasury Department to keep the Bond Market from crashing. The banks pay very little interest an the stock market is basically gambling.

NO MENTION OF RETIREMENT

There is NO mention of retirnement in the Bible. We seem to want it in an effort to eliminate the "sweat from our face" (Genesis 3:19).

Our modern day idea of retirement was formed in the 1950's, and was basically an America idea at the time due to our wealth. As the US became wealthier, with access to better food, medical care and transportation, family dynamics change. For example, older generations started living longer and younger generations were financially capable of moving out and living on their own much sooner. As such, peple were able to have a much longer period of what we might call "retirenment, which was also much more active and pleasure focussed as a phase of life. But back then, that season still only spanned around 5-10 years before the person passed away.

Over the past 70 years, due to medical improvments and other developments, people have started living longer; in some cases people are retired almost as long as they have worked. As of 2024, one of the fastest growing segments of American society are those over the age of 85. Since many of them are thankfully in good health, they tend to focus on leasure (golf and travel), family (grandchildren), hobbies and more relaxation. These are good things when kep in persepective of God's calling upon their lives.

BACK TO THE BIBLE

Nowhere in the Bible does it mention that any of us with the ability to work should stop working. This does NOT mean that we ought to work until we die, but that the work we do later in life is diferent. As Christians, our goal ought to be to "finish well". A person may semi-retire by reducing work hours or workload. As such, our retirenment is a phase of life where we can use our gifts, skills and abilities to glorify God differently than we we may have worked full-time. This doesn't mean that we ought not play golf or travel but that our comfort and enjoyment-our focus in this stage of life ought not be so self-absorbed that we miss the joy and calling that God planned for us.

THIRD: Retirement can and should be a wonderful time of taking it easy and not having to report to the stressful work environment we find ourselves in today. This is called "Semi-Retirenement". This is the proper idea of retirenment as it's here that we have the opporutnity to give back to society in the name of our Lord-helping serve at church and help others less fortunate than us with the goal to fulfill all that God has called us to. We can't take any of the wealth we amass with us, so we might as well glorify God with all He has lent us in the temporal to help other in light of eternity.

CONCLUSION

 Let's remember the Westminster  Shorter Catechism whish says that "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever." How will you fulfill that during retirement? Perhaps that's a good question for all of us to ponder.