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.