The Real Estate Investing Journey

Mat 6:17-18: But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Since food is such a big part of our culture here in America, we've been frustrated a number of times when called to a fast and trying to keep it secret. It never fails that someone will want to invite you to eat lunch or offer you a snack. Or at work, food will be set out and just by force of habit I reach out and grab a bite not thinking. Please don't think we're advocating legalism, we're advocating excellence. The theme of excellence is echoed in our article about tithing on real estate. When we fast, we want to do the best job we can. In the event that we do grab the accidental bite, oh well forget about it and go on. In fact, sometimes it makes it easier to get a fast 'going' by snacking lite here and there.

For those who choose to fast we pose a question to you: what ways have you found to keep your fast secret when people ask you about food? When someone in the church asks and you say you're fasting and you tell them, they understand. When someone in the world asks and you say you're fasting, they don't understand... how do you handle that one? Could that be an open door to witness, or would that go against keeping it secret? What if your boss at work asks you to go to lunch, do you break your fast or risk appearing anti-social? Do you go to lunch anyway and not eat anything?

In the scripture above, did Jesus mean that if someone directly asks you about food while fasting, it's OK to tell them so you don't have to be coy or lie about it, just don't go around advertising that you're on a fast? Or was His intent to keep it absolutely secret and just divert the question (which in our experience just leads to more questions)? In other words, how do you interact with others on the subject of food while you're fasting?

Image courtesy Holy Spirit Led Christian