God, What Do You Want? Fast Food Version ~ Greg J

“Bu yao,” she murmured again.

My friends had an emergency and asked me, with my survival-level Chinese language skills, to entertain their parents who had just arrived from Shanghai.  So we went to the nearby shopping mall. The older couple delighted in examining store goods and chortling, “Ha! Na li?” meaning, Ha! Where is this from?  

Of course they knew where it was from. In this ritual, my role was to scratch my ear and ask wide-eyed, “Lai dao, uhh, Zhonguo ma?” Does it perhaps come from, uhh, China? 

At noon I walked them around the food court to select lunch.  I asked, “Xiang chir shenmeh?” Wish to eat something? They shook their heads, “Mei shenmeh.” Nothing.  I pointed at the Italian food counter, “Yao bu yao chir zhigeh mien?” Do you want to eat these noodles? They shook their heads and replied, “Xie xie, bu yao.” Thanks, not want.  We strolled by the sweet & sour chicken stall. “Yao bu yao ji ro?” “Xie xie, bu yao.” 

I turned to the taco stand, “Yao bu yao?” Grandpa responded enthusiastically, “Yao! Chir zhigeh!” I want it! Let’s eat this!

But Grandma again shook her head, “Bu yao.”  I figured she was fighting jet lag, or didn’t want American fast food, or for some other reason wasn’t hungry.  So Grandpa and I ate tacos.

When we returned home, Grandma marched us in and vented to her daughter more quickly than I could follow.  As was later explained to me, Grandma had this complaint. “We had a great time. At lunch we were hungry.  Ge Rei-Ge asked us to eat.  Of course we politely refused.  I know Americans mean well. But they don’t understand politeness.  But your father, he should know better.  Instead of waiting to be asked five times, he gave in at just three!”

I ask this question: God, what do you want?

How many times must I ask?

Previously I noted several quotes from the older part of the Bible that summarized in just one or two sentences—even in just three words—what God wants. How could he be clearer?  For example:

He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice,
and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
- Micah 6:8

Later, Jesus prioritized from the 613 commandments just two:

“Which commandment is the most important of all?”
Jesus answered, “The most important is,
    ‘Hear, O Israel:  The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
    And you shall love the Lord your God
        with all your heart and
        with all your soul and
        with all your mind and
        with all your strength.’
The second is this: 
    ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
-- Mark 12


If we look in the New Testament for phrases equivalent to "God wants...", there are just a handful to quote.

God, what do you want?

The Lord is not slow in doing what he promised--
the way some people understand slowness.
But God is being patient with you.
He does not want anyone to be lost,
but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives.
- 2 Peter 3

This is good,
and it pleases God our Savior,
who wants all people to be saved and to know the truth.
- 1 Timothy 2


God, what do you want?

So do not be foolish but learn what the Lord wants you to do.
Do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin you,
    but be filled with the Spirit.
        Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,
        singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord.
        Always give thanks to God the Father for everything,
        in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Submit to each other as you would to Christ.
- Ephesians 5


God, what do you want?

God wants you to be holy
    and to stay away from sexual sins.
He wants each of you to learn to control your own body
    in a way that is holy and honorable.
Don’t use your body for sexual sin like the people who do not know God.
Also, do not wrong or cheat another Christian in this way.
- 1 Thessalonians 4


God, what do you want?

It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong if that is what God wants. …
So those who suffer as God wants
    should trust their souls to the faithful Creator
    as they continue to do what is right.
- 1 Peter 3-4

God, what do you want?

So do not be foolish but learn what the Lord wants you to do....
Submit to each other as you would to Christ.
- Ephesians 5

It is God’s desire that by doing good
    you should stop foolish people from saying stupid things about you.
Live as free people,
    but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
Live as servants of God.
Show respect for all people:
    Love the brothers and sisters of God’s family,
    respect God,
    honor the king.
- 1 Peter 2


I thank John MacArthur for observing memorably that these verses
say that God wants me to be:

     Saved... Spirit-Filled... Sanctified... Suffering (for good)... and Submitted.

~~~

There are plenty of examples of people doing what God wants, notably:

And when Jesus was baptized, ... a voice from heaven said,
“This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased.”
- Matthew 3

~~~

Consider a kid at the dinner table who announces, "I'm ready for desert!"

What does Mom reply?  "Have you finished your lima beans?  They're good for you!"

I similarly announce urgently, "God, I am ready to receive your specific will for me. Yum! Bring it on!" More can be said about guidance and wisdom, and whether I am trusting or presumptuous to expect explicit individual direction. But the first response must be a question of what is important:

    Why should God give me more insight into what he wants
    if I am not doing
    what he already said he wants?

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