What Does God

Want?
Most people are selfish and ask the
question of Whats in it for me? Or
What do I want?
More importantly we should ask what
does God want?
 Matthew 22:15-22
15. Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might
entangle him in his talk. 16. And they sent out unto him their
disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art
true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for
any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17. Tell us
therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar,
or not? 18. But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why
tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19. Shew me the tribute money. And
they brought unto him a penny. 20. And he saith unto them, Whose is
this image and superscription? 21. They say unto him, Caesar's. Then
saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which
are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22. When they
had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their
way.
 Introduction
Jesus was teaching in the temple.
The Pharisees sent their disciples and the
Herodians to Him with a question.
Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?- v. 17
They came to Jesus with deceit and flattery to try
entrap Him.
If he answered yes, Jesus would have alienated
Jews who resented paying tribute to Rome.
And if He said no, he would have been accused of
rebellion.
 Introduction
Jesus immediately called for a coin and asked
whose image was on it.
When they answered Caesars, He said, Render
therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars,
and to God the things that are Gods.- v. 21
Jesus answer caused them to marvel.
His answer suggests there are things that we
ought to be giving to the Lord.
We want to consider some of those in this lesson.
 Giving To God
God owns all things.
Psalm 24:1 says, The earth is the LORDs, and all its
fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
We are stewards of all that we possess.
Neither does God need the things that we have- Acts
17:25.
But there are things God claims and wants us to give
to Him.
These are identified in His book, the Bible.
It also reveals the punishment of those who
withhold these things and the blessings of those
who give them.
 God Wants Our Love
It is the great commandment in the Law -
Matthew 22:37.
It is our response to His love for us - I John 4:19.
To love God is to want to please Him in all things.
Loving God involves:
Loving His word - Psalm 119:97
Respecting and reverencing His name
Exodus 20:7.
Keeping His commandments - I John 5:3
 God Wants Our Complete Obedience
We demonstrate our love for God and our faith
in Him by our obedience to His word.
He expects us to obey all that He has said -
Colossians 3:17.
Without addition, subtraction or substitution -
Revelation 22:18-19
Gods way is always best for us and for others.
Partial obedience is disobedience.
It substitutes human will for Gods will
I Samuel 15:22
 God Wants Our Worship
God has desired worship in all ages.
God is the only being worthy of worship
Matthew 4:10
Those who love God will worship Him as often as
possible.
God is not pleased with all worship
Leviticus 10:1-2.
He has identified the worship that He wants.
Worship according His word and from our hearts -
John 4:24.
Human innovations in worship dishonor God.
 God Wants First Place
In our hearts and in our lives.
He wants us to love and trust Him more than any
other.
His place is shown by our priorities
Matthew 6:33
God deserves to be first.
Because He is our Creator- Psalm 100:3
Because He is our Savior- John 3:16
Because of the many blessings that He has given
to us Ephesians 1:3.
 God Wants First Place
Things that can take Gods place
Selfishness or a desire to please self.
Possessions- Matthew 19:22.
Pleasures and approval of the world
2 Timothy 4:10.
Any thing that takes Gods place in our heart
becomes an idol - Colossians 3:5.
When God is first, we will gladly give Him all the
other things He requires.
 God Wants Our Best
He Commanded the best for sacrifices under the
Law - Leviticus 22:19.
Jews in Malachis day were cursed because they
withheld their tithes and their best - Malachi 3:8.
God has given the best to us - Jn. 3:16.
He deserves the best of our time, energy, talents
and possessions.
If God holds first place in our lives, then we will
give Him the best that we have.
 God Wants Us To Be Saved
The more people who are saved, the more
glorified God will be.
God does not want people to perish
2 Peter 3:9
God gave us His grace in Jesus
Titus 2:11-14
God saves the righteous according to His
own purpose 2 Timothy 1: 9-10
 Conclusion
There are things that God claims, and we
ought to cheerfully give them to Him.
Our love, our obedient service, our
worship, first place in our hearts and lives,
and the best that we have.
He will bless and reward those who give
Him these things.
Are you giving these things to the Lord
today?