EP. 256 Why You’re Always Wanting More (And How to Stop)

To View the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/c9Ioi02mTy8

SHOW NOTES

This week on the Hope Rescue Podcast, we wrap up our five-part series on the purpose behind the Ten Commandments by looking at the final commandment in Exodus 20:17:

“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”

At first glance, “You shall not covet” might seem less serious than commands against murder or adultery, but in reality, coveting strikes at the very heart of human sin—discontentment with what God has given. Coveting is more than just wanting something; it’s a restless yearning that resents God’s providence and envies what He has given others.

Tim explains that the antidote to coveting is simple yet profoundly transformative—gratitude. When we develop a thankful heart toward God, we acknowledge His goodness, sovereignty, and perfect provision in our lives. Gratitude shifts our focus from what we don’t have to the abundance we already possess in Christ.

Tim introduces the concept of the hedonic treadmill—the psychological pattern in which people continually chase new experiences, possessions, or goals in search of happiness, only to find that the sense of joy quickly fades. Whether it’s a new promotion, car, relationship, or milestone, the initial excitement wears off, and we soon long for the next thing.

This cycle perfectly mirrors what Scripture describes as the futility of worldly desire. Ecclesiastes 1:8 says, “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.” True contentment doesn’t come from acquiring more—it comes from resting in the sufficiency of Christ.

Three Ways to Step Off the Hedonic Treadmill

1. Be grateful for what you already have. Gratitude is a discipline of the heart. Instead of longing for what’s next, take time to thank God for the daily blessings you already possess—your family, your health, your salvation, your church community. As 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

2. Reinterpret the meaning of life. Life’s meaning is not found in accumulation or success but in glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. When we realign our purpose with God’s eternal plan, we find that joy and contentment are no longer dependent on circumstance but on relationship.

3. Develop a deep connection with the way. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” A life centered on Christ naturally detaches from worldly comparison. When our identity is rooted in Him, we no longer measure ourselves by material gain but by eternal purpose.

   
   

Kimberly highlights the idea of “abundance denial”—the tendency to overlook God’s blessings because we’re focused on what we don’t have. Many of us live in abundance yet operate from a mindset of scarcity. When we continually compare our lives to others, we rob ourselves of the peace that comes from contentment in Christ. Learning to look at what’s already in our hands—instead of envying what’s in someone else’s—is one of the most freeing spiritual practices we can cultivate.

Gratitude doesn’t happen by accident; it grows with intentional practice. Paul modeled this beautifully in Philippians 4:11–13:

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content… I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Paul wasn’t content because life was easy—he was content because his satisfaction was anchored in Christ, not circumstance. Gratitude, like faith, strengthens each time we exercise it. The tenth commandment reminds us that contentment is not found in possession, position, or pleasure—but in a Person. When our hearts are full of gratitude to God, there’s simply no room left for coveting.