Contentment is Rare
H. W. Beecher. Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content. Suppose I could have these faces gathered and brought to me, and could hold them thus, and should ask, "Whose image and superscription is stamped on this face?" "Care marked this face," would be the (frequent) answer. "Who marked this one?" "Fretfulness." "And this?" "Selfishness?" "This?" "Suffering stamped this." "What this?" "Lust! Lust!" "And this?" "Self-will." "And who stamped this face?" I should ask of one — a rare and sweet one. "This I why, where did you get it? Whose face is this? How beautiful! It is marked by the sweet peace of a contented spirit." I never saw more than a dozen of these in my life. (H. W. Beecher.) Parallel Verses KJV: Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. WEB: Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.