A Life Of Vanity

All the luxuries that we gain in this life are all vanity. What does it matter if we get everything we ever want but lose our soul in the meantime? It is fine to live a good life but when our hearts desire is for the things of this world over God, there lies the problem. Every good thing that we gain through the lusts of the flesh and covetousness is not worthwhile. These things will bring more sorrow and pain in one’s life than the joy or happiness we gain from God. In this area, Solomon is a person we can learn from, for whatever his heart desired, he got it and more. Some people would like to have a swimming pool but he had many 1“pools of water”. He had the most beautiful gardens and 1“servants and maiden” to wait on him. He planted many vineyards and had many houses. Even 1“silver and gold” was never lacking in his treasury. He had men and women come and sing, while 1“musical instruments” were played for him. He had all the 1“delights of the sons of men”. And after all this, he said, 1“so I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem.” 1“And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.” 1“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” A the end, all the abundance in his life didn’t matter.

Think about your life and what you have done and gained from it. Has everything brought you the happiness you were looking for? Now examine what you have enjoyed the most. Has the things of this world left you with a sense of peace and joy? Or was it God that did this? All I know is that when I was in the world, and gaining all I could, like Solomon, I was the least happy. Sure, I gained what my heart desired for a time but it always ended in misery. What I had never brought continued joy but I always had to find something better. And even those things seemed dull after a while. And then finally I got to a point where I looked at my life and all I could see was vanity, vanity, vanity. Nothing I had done was for my good. None of these things mattered, for I left my first love behind, which is Jesus Christ. Because the Lord was missing, in all my endeavors, my life was empty. Just like Solomon did, I gave myself over to the good things in life but in the end, none of it helped me. I was still empty. And as Solomon realized this to, he wrote something very interesting. He said, 1“wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.” Do you understand what happened here? The light switch finally came on and he realized that the wisdom of God was far greater than anything else he gained and did in life. He understood, as I understand now, that being in the light of the Lord is much greater living in darkness. If you are also out of sync with God, because of vanity, get right with Him today.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I know that my heart is still weak, when I forget to seek You and to pray. Temptations come and take me under, that I might sin. Even my passions for the things of this world is stronger when Your words are not in my heart. I forget how great is Your love, when my heart is looking to be fulfilled by the lusts of the flesh. Surely, my fulfillment is far less then when I have You in my life. Because I had distanced myself, like this in the past, I gave myself over to the things of this world. What I could gain and do was far greater than anything else. Yes, Lord, I was happy for a time, because of this, but at the same time my family suffered. Because I had to be fulfilled, they took a back seat. Oh how sorry I am for this wicked life of mine. I know that I was trapped in vanity and didn’t even realize it. And what did it do for me, nothing. I was lost without You, Jesus. I am so grateful that You took me from a life like this. Thank You for coming into my life and casting out all the darkness. I was blind but can now see. I am so grateful for Your mercy. How sweet is Your forgiveness and love. May others that are lost also be restored and experience Your love. I trust in You, Lord. I love You. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

1Ecclesiastes 2:1-13 (KJV)
1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

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