Zechariah was a prophet chosen by God to instruct, warn, and correct His people. Unfortunately, God’s people refused to listen, thus bringing about God’s punishment (see verse 13). The people questioned whether they should continue their scheduled fasts since the temple they were building for the Lord was almost complete. It’s as if they were saying, “We’ve got it from here, Lord, no more need for us to rely on You.”

God instructed Zechariah to ask the people why they ever fasted in the first place. Were they doing it for Him or for themselves? The people had been in a healthy routine of fasting, but they became mere creatures of habit, fasting only because it was what they were used to. Sometimes we start things out by doing them for the Lord, but our selfishness can get in the way. Like the people in the book of Zechariah, we fall into unhealthy habits even though we started on a healthy routine. We can go to church week after week, but it does not reflect a strong relationship with the Lord. Jesus is not so concerned with what we are doing as He is with why we do what we do. The motive of the heart is what should drive the Christian to want to please the Lord in all we do. Fasting should not be done unless the purpose of doing so is to bring glory to God.

• When was the last time you sat in solitude and evaluated the spiritual state of your heart? Read 2 Corinthians 13:5. Why does Paul tell us to examine ourselves daily?