The Cure For Want

Introduction

The Sabbath has always been God’s weekly reminder that enough is enough.

It whispers through the quiet hours: You can stop striving now; you already have Me.

And yet, in a world that never stops chasing more — more success, more recognition, more possessions, more happiness — it’s hard to rest in that truth. Every advertisement is a modern serpent, hissing the same temptation that echoed through Eden: You’ll be happier if you have this.

But the longer we listen, the more restless we become.

Covetousness is not just greed; it’s the fever of discontented desire. It’s the disease that makes us forget what we already have in Christ.

Today, as we gather on this Sabbath, I want to talk about The Cure for Want. Because God never leaves His children without a remedy.

The cure begins with what I call The Covetousness Jab — a divine vaccine that neutralizes envy and inoculates the heart with gratitude, contentment, and generosity.

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1. The Infection of “I Want”

Covetousness doesn’t march in with drums; it slips quietly into the soul.

It tells us joy is just one purchase, one promotion, one relationship away.

The tenth commandment doesn’t just say, Don’t steal. It goes deeper:

> “Thou shalt not covet… anything that is thy neighbour’s.” — Exodus 20:17

That commandment exposes the root of every other.

People don’t steal until they covet.

They don’t commit adultery until they covet.

They don’t lie until they covet.

Covetousness is the root system of nearly every moral fall.

When Achan saw the Babylonian garment and gold at Jericho, he said, I coveted and took them. Covetousness blinded him to obedience, and Israel’s victory at Ai collapsed into defeat.

Achan caused the loss at Ai and ended up in Achor — the Valley of Trouble.

That’s the anatomy of sin: seeing, wanting, taking, hiding — always in that order.

And it always ends the same way: loss of joy, loss of peace, loss of presence.

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2. The Covetousness Jab

How do you cure the restless disease of wanting more?

The world says, Satisfy it.

God says, Sanctify it.

The Covetousness Jab has three doses:

>> Dose 1 — Contentment

> “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” — Philippians 4:11

Paul wrote that from prison.

He had no wealth, no security — yet he said, “I’ve learned contentment.”

He had discovered that Christ Himself is enough.

Contentment isn’t complacency; it’s peace between your needs and God’s provision.

>> Dose 2 — Gratitude

> “In every thing give thanks.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Gratitude is the immune system of the soul.

You can’t grumble and be grateful at the same time.

On Sabbath morning, we give thanks in advance — before the next blessing even comes.

We’re saying, God, I don’t need tomorrow’s miracle to worship You today.

>>Dose 3 — Generosity

> “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35

Generosity breaks greed’s grip.

When you open your hands, God opens your heart.

If you’ve lost your joy, give something away — time, forgiveness, kindness, resources — and joy will return.

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3. Happiness: A Consequence, Not a Cause

Happiness isn’t the goal of life; it’s the echo of right living.

You can’t chase happiness and catch it — it’s a byproduct, not a prize.

> “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” — John 13:17

Obedience first, happiness follows.

People who make happiness their goal end up empty because they’ve confused the fruit with the root.

The world says happiness is causal — “If I get what I want, I’ll be happy.”

Scripture says it’s consequential — “If I walk with God, joy will follow.”

Jesus never said, “Blessed are those who feel good.”

He said, “Blessed are the pure, the meek, the merciful.”

Happiness doesn’t come from having more; it comes from being more like Him.

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4. Desire Can Be Tamed by Duty

Desire is energy; God built it into us.

But without obedience, desire becomes wildfire.

Duty is the bridle that keeps passion pointed toward purpose.

David’s desire went unbridled and led to Bathsheba.

Joseph’s duty led him away from Potiphar’s wife and into destiny.

Duty isn’t legalism — it’s loyalty.

It’s doing what’s right when the feeling isn’t there yet.

> “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” — John 14:15

Love transforms duty, and duty tames desire.

When duty leads, desire learns to follow — and one day, it even rejoices.

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5. The Sabbath Cure

The Sabbath is God’s weekly antidote to covetousness.

Six days we labor; one day we rest — not because the work is finished, but because God is enough.

> “Six days shalt thou labour… but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” — Exodus 20:9–10