These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man.
Ill weeds grow apace.
Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. It cost him some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. We might well be willing to endure Paul's infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him, if we too might by any means attain unto his good degree.