Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

What Does God Want From You?
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6 NIV).
Through our prayers and petitions we make it very clear what we want from God, but have you ever stopped to think what does God want from me? I had a friend once tell me that for years he viewed God as a “mystical vending machine.” Many Christians believe that if we give our tithes and offerings to our local church, then we have “done our part.” Moreover, we sometimes confuse God with Santa Claus and think that if we are outwardly religious such as attending church every Sunday and volunteering for church activities then we will get an extra helping of God’s favor.
So, once we do our part, it is time for God to do his part, right? This is the basis behind the mystical vending machine theory – I put money in and then I get to select what I want to come out. Tithing is a good thing and a ten percent tithe is not only encouraged in Scripture but comes with a great promise of provision. Malachi 3:10 reads, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” God is pleased when we return to Him our first fruits. The key to giving is to give with a pure heart. Give with a desire that others will be blessed. Give to God because you trust in Him. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day by, saying, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others” (Luke 11:42).
Please note that I used the term “outwardly religious” in the first paragraph. Now, please consider the words of Matthew 23:26-28. “26 You blind proud religious law-keepers! Clean the inside of the cup and plate, then the outside will be clean also.27 “It is bad for you, teachers of the Law and proud religious law-keepers, you who pretend to be someone you are not! You are like graves that have been made white and look beautiful on the outside. But inside you are full of the bones of dead men and of every sinful thing. 28 As men look at you, you seem to be good and right but inside you are full of sin. You pretend to be someone you are not.”
God doesn’t want a phony. He does not need our offerings but is pleased when our offerings are given as a sincere manifestation of our faith. What He does desire is a relationship. In Hosea 6:6, God says, “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know Me” (Hosea 6:6). That’s the first purpose of life. The most important thing you can know is that God created you so that He can love you. And the most important thing you can do in life is to know and love Him.
Prayer: Dear God prune us from everything that separates us from you. Send forth your Holy Spirit to draw us closer to You. Grant us a peace that transcends all understanding as we grow closer to You. Give us a pure heart that seeks Your face and sincerely desires to honor You in all that we think, say, and do. We love, seek you, and need you this day and every day. Amen.
Meet the Author
Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
We welcome your comments below.
Liked this post?
Read more below or search for more topics...
-
Present but Absent
Present but Absent “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2 ESV). Many men are inherently competitive. We want to be the best at what we do. It pushes us to harvest the largest buck deer, catch the biggest fish, or grow the largest tomato. We even compete in fantasy football. A competitive nature helps us climb the ladder at work. This inner drive has helped us to be financial providers for our... -
The Battle Within Yourself
The Battle Within Yourself “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an ” (Luke 6:45 NIV). Perhaps there is no part of the human body that is more necessary to life – but as poorly understood – as the human brain. My son has autism and as a child had several CT scans of his brain that all appeared “normal.” However, there is clearly something unique that is occurring in his brain that serves to limit his speech and overall development. Both of my children are blessings from God, and I treasure them. His... -
Do You Know A Proverbs 31 Woman? I Do!
Do You Know A Proverbs 31 Woman? I Do! “When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the LORD, and the LORD will pay you back” (Proverbs 19:17 GNT). Scripture is full of stories of women that have played essential roles in advancing the work of our Lord. These prominent women include the Matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, Miriam the prophetess, Deborah the judge, Huldah the prophetess, Rahab, Esther, and many more. Many of these women are recognized in the Faith Hall of Fame found in Hebrews 11. Proverbs 31 describes the many virtues of Godly woman. The Proverbs 31 woman can be commended for all the wonderful things she...