Did you know it is possible to live without want? Living without want is a place of contentment, satisfaction, pure delight. It is a place of peace, fearlessness, and true joy. The world is continually putting something in our face to delight the eyes, tempt the taste, or tickle the ears. It is a perpetual call to buy this, look at that, there is no end to it. The consistent reminder of what you don’t have but could have, should have is what drives people crazy. People spend money to get something they think they want only to find out that think, that experience, that whatever did not satisfy the longing inside of them. The want can be for stuff, status or placement. When you see it on people it is like the seals at the zoo, crying out from the pool beneath always wanting you to toss them a fish to eat.

The Bible tells us we can live in a place of not wanting anything. It is not a place of extravagant wealth so you are in need of nothing, it is not a title so you feel like your someone, no it is a place of true contentment, a place where you truly have no want. Psalm 34:9 says, “Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.” Psalm 23:1 says, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The fear of the Lord is obedience to the voice of the Lord and is evidence that you have a shepherd and it produces in you a life that does not want. A wantless life is a peaceful life.

Paul picks up on this themes in Romans 14:7 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” When we really spend time with God, when we really hear His voice and obey, when we are submitted to His will in our life, there is a contentment that comes and want is no longer present. People can feel it when you want something, but they also can sense it when you have no want for you are filled with righteousness, peace and joy. The abundant life is a life where you have no want, for you fear the Lord and He is your shepherd.