Beware of vanity, for it has no essence.
The world system is Vanity Fair. Bunyan, in Pilgrims Progress, said Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Legion set up vanity and was where houses, lands, trades, places, honors, preferment, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, and delights of all sorts were sold every day all year long.
The word vanity means useless, empty, worthless, and futile. It is related to the English word vacuum. Solomon said, “Vanity of vanity all is vanity, and there is no profit of anything a man does under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:2–3).
Life was vain to Solomon because he walked away from God and followed vain things: idols, women, and wealth. Although his hands were full, his heart was empty, and he hated life. He looked at all his works and labor and saw all was vanity and vexation of spirit. Solomon created his own secular Eden and became vain.
When people follow vanity, they live in vain because vanity gives no real substance to their lives. Israel followed vanity, became vain, and God judged them. Solomon followed their pattern.
Vain people are empty, arrogant, proud, insincere, silly, valueless, worthless, hollow, and foolish. When we become vain, we are good for nothing. When the church becomes vain, it is no longer the light of the world and the salt of the earth. We become good for nothing when we follow nothing good.
The best way to avoid vanity is to recognize all things in this temporal world won’t matter two seconds on the other side of eternity. God is the one great reality and essence of life. He gives life meaning and purpose.
What are some ways you can keep from becoming vain?
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James H. Cagle has been preaching and getting the Word out since 1982. He has pastored for twelve years. He now writes for twelve newspapers weekly. He has published three books and is working on several others. James spent four years in the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1980 as a sergeant. He grew up in Bemiss, Georgia, and graduated from Lowndes High in 1975. He currently resides in Nashville, Georgia.