Fasting for God or Fasting for Ourselves?
Uncovering the difference between self-serving routine and true spiritual devotion
Sermon Summary
This sermon addresses the subtle danger of empty religious formalism, where spiritual activities like fasting become self-serving routines rather than genuine acts of devotion to God. Grounded in Zechariah 7, the passage teaches that God desires heart transformation, ethical integrity, and compassion over hollow ceremonial performance. Hearers are invited to examine their spiritual motives, repent of self-centered religion, and surrender to Jesus Christ in authentic love and practical obedience.
Introduction
It is remarkably easy for holy habits to turn into unthinking routines. We can sing songs, attend church services, give offerings, and even fast without ever actually engaging our hearts with God. In Zechariah 7, a delegation came to Jerusalem asking whether they should continue an annual fast they had observed for seventy years. Instead of giving a simple yes or no, God asked them a searching question that echoes across the centuries: when you fasted, did you really do it for Me? God pierces through external religious performance to expose our underlying motivations. True faith is never about earning points or soothing our conscience through empty ritual. God calls His people into a living, transformational relationship that changes how we love Him and how we treat our neighbours every single day.
Main Scripture
Zechariah 7:4-7
Then the word of the LORD of Armies came to me, saying, “Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, ‘ When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month for these seventy years, did you at all fast to me, really to me? When you eat and when you drink, don’t you eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? Aren’t these the words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and its cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited? ’”
Zechariah 7 is central to understanding true biblical worship because it exposes the contrast between outward religious appearance and inward covenant faithfulness. Set in 518 BC during the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple, the post-exilic community wondered if old mourning rituals were still necessary. God redirected their focus from calendar dates and ceremonial restriction to the state of their hearts. Through Zechariah, God reminded them that their seventy years of exile were caused by ignoring His call to justice, mercy, and genuine righteousness. This passage reveals that God does not accept external religious displays when they are disconnected from personal holiness, active love, and sincere devotion.
Main Sermon Points
1. Examine the True Motives of Your Heart
“Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, ‘ When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month for these seventy years, did you at all fast to me, really to me? When you eat and when you drink, don’t you eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?
God directly challenged both the leaders and the common people regarding why they observed seventy years of fasting. He revealed that their fasting was done out of self-pity and sorrow over lost comfort rather than a desire to honour God or repent of their sins.
Jesus similarly warns against practicing religious duties to be seen by others or to satisfy spiritual pride, reminding believers that God rewards secret, sincere devotion.
The Israelites had maintained exact spiritual calendars for decades, yet God viewed their devotion as entirely self-serving. Length of tradition never guarantees spiritual depth.
Before engaging in fasting, prayer, or public ministry, take time in quiet self-reflection to ask why you are doing it. Repent of any desire for human applause or self-justification, and consecrate your spiritual practices solely to the glory of God.
Quick Insights
- Religious routine can easily hide a heart that is far from God.
- God measures our worship by its motive rather than its outward intensity.
- True fasting focuses on God's glory rather than personal compensation.
2. Listen Promptly to God's Inspired Word
But they refused to listen, and turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear. Yes, they made their hearts as hard as flint, lest they might hear the law and the words which the LORD of Armies had sent by his Spirit by the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the LORD of Armies.
Zechariah reminds the community that previous generations suffered devastating judgment because they deliberately closed their ears to the Holy Spirit speaking through the prophets. Spiritual hardness begins when believers repeatedly ignore scriptural truth.
The writer of Hebrews echoes this warning, urging believers not to harden their hearts when they hear God's voice today.
Hardness of heart is described in Zechariah as making one's heart like flint, a diamond-hard stone. This reveals that spiritual insensitivity is an intentional choice of the human will.
Whenever God's Word convicts you during personal Bible reading, preaching, or godly counsel, respond immediately with confession and obedience rather than making excuses or delaying.
Quick Insights
- Ignoring God's truth today makes hearing His voice harder tomorrow.
- Spiritual hardness is a deliberate choice to resist God's Spirit.
- A tender heart quickly obeys what Scripture clearly reveals.
3. Practice Real Justice and Compassion Today
“ Thus has the LORD of Armies spoken, saying, ‘ Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother. Don’t oppress the widow, the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.’
God defines the expression of authentic faith as practicing active justice, extending brotherly compassion, and defending vulnerable members of society. Worship that does not produce practical love is counterfeit.
James confirms that pure religion before God requires caring for orphans and widows while keeping oneself unspotted by worldly corruption.
God explicitly links true worship to social responsibility, demonstrating that our relationship with Him is directly reflected in how we treat the poor, the foreigner, and the helpless.
Identify one practical way this week to serve someone in need in your local church or community, such as supporting a widow, mentoring an orphan, or offering fair and honest treatment in your workplace.
Quick Insights
- True devotion to God always produces practical love for people.
- Protecting the vulnerable is an essential fruit of authentic faith.
- God values acts of mercy far above ritual sacrifices.
Bottom Line
God is not impressed by empty religious traditions that serve our own desires, but calls us to genuine worship marked by a responsive heart, practical justice, and selfless love.
Memorable Quote
Fasting that seeks self is merely spiritual performance; true fasting yields the heart to God and extends hands of mercy to others.
Theological Point
Genuine covenant faith is inherently ethical and heart-centered, proving that external religious rituals cannot substitute for Spirit-empowered obedience, moral integrity, and practical love.
Prayer Guide
- Ask God to search our hearts and reveal any self-serving motives in our worship and spiritual habits.
- Pray for a soft and responsive heart that readily obeys the Holy Spirit speaking through Scripture.
- Seek God's help to actively show mercy, justice, and kindness to widows, orphans, and the needy in our communities.
- Thank God for the ultimate example of selfless devotion shown to us through Jesus Christ.
Responding to God’s Word
When we ask ourselves, 'Fasting for God or Fasting for Ourselves?', we are forced to look beyond our religious activities into the core of our spiritual life. God does not demand hollow compliance or traditional routines; He desires our whole hearts. In Jesus Christ, we see the perfect fulfillment of true devotion—One who gave Himself completely to do the Father's will and who demonstrated perfect justice, mercy, and sacrificial love. Christ did not fast or suffer for His own gain, but gave His life to redeem us and transform our hearts. As we look to Him, let us abandon empty religious formalism and step into genuine faith. May our worship, our fasting, and our daily lives overflow with sincere love for God and active compassion for those around us.
