Does God want things? What are some of the things He wants, and how did we find out?

Question

This question may appear brief, but I think it is simple enough to not need much background. Basically, I'm curious about the nature of God and His desires. Does He want things? What are some of the things He wants, and how did we find out about these things?

Citations from specific literature (Bible or otherwise) where you have evidence of His wants would be particularly helpful. :-)

Answer 1

God wants us to be humble, follow his rules, act right, love mercy, and have faith in him. That is what pleases God.

Micah 6:8 (NIV)
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Hebrews 11:6 NIV
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

John 14:21 (NIV)
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.

Answer 2

God wants to be glorified by His creatures. In the Lord's prayer, the first statement we make is "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name." When Moses was appealing to God for the fate of the Israelis, he used the point that He would get disrepute if He killed them. God repented. (Ex.32:11-14)

Answer 3

God wants nice smell of burnt offering: http://bible.cc/numbers/28-27.htm

Also he wants that to be done only on one specific place in Jerusalem.

http://bible.cc/deuteronomy/12-11.htm

"As the sole place of Jewish sacrifice, the Temple replaced the portable sanctuary constructed in" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_in_Jerusalem

Answer 4

What does God want? Certainly not things since,

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it

Psalm 24:1

So what does He want? For me, Bill Hybels said it best:

"If you think about it, you realize God has only one kind of treasure. It's people."

Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church

Answer 5

Here is a passage that answers the question even if it also perplexes me:

James 4:5 (ESV)
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"?

Looks like God really wants us to come back to him. I don't understand why it's said this way, nor do I know what scripture James is referring to but it does seem clear that one thing he wants from us is that we abide in Him!