Dealing With Vanity and Futility

UV 1558/10000 Dealing with Vanity and Futility

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 1 v 2

The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes in scripture bemoans that “ vanity of vanities – all is vanity.” He found that pleasure, youth, wealth, accomplishments, sex, success, fame, beauty, work, scholarship, wisdom and knowledge were all a chasing of the wind. He found everything in life vain and futile or in short, meaningless. It is meaningless as it is tantalising and very often we end up where we started. The strong man becomes a weakling in his old age. The wise die just like the foolish. The wealthy leave their wealth to the unworthy. Life is full of sorrow and pain. It is meaningless as it is all transient and not lasting. The human senses and appetite for more is never ever satisfied. Without God in our lives, all these activities and pursuits are worth little and mean nothing. With God in control of our lives, every wisp of wind will begin to find meaning. All the happenings in our lives –both the good and bad, the joyful moments and sad ones too – will be rich in meaning. We will earn from success and learn from failure as we lean on the Lord and His word to gain a perspective and understanding in the light of eternity.

All that we value in life are but bubbles unless we include the Lord in our lives. When we love the Lord and His Word, everything becomes meaningful and a great blessing. We rejoice over every little wonder of nature that we observe. We develop a sense of balance and perspective. We will be fully committed to whatever we are doing and yet not get absorbed or attached to the fruit of our labour. We offer our entire lives as a living sacrifice to the Lord. He blesses and consecrates our every moment and effort. He gives us rewards in due time both in this lifetime and in the course of eternity. We have both hope and confidence that every effort of ours is not futile. He blesses our successors, our children and their children. We will neither be proud nor arrogant as we know that we are who we are only by the grace of God. He fills us with a sense of joy and gladness, with peace and the fruit of the Spirit of love, humility and kindness. He preserves us from lust from within and temptations from without. He will not let us be put to shame.

As a counter to the writer of Ecclesiastes, the man of faith can write, “ Everything is meaningful. “ We can feel fulfilled as we walk with the Lord in faith. He is the one who empowers us. Weakness and folly is bound in our hearts but He is the One who sets us free from both weakness , folly, emptiness and vanity. He vindicates us and preserves us from the envy of our foes. He satisfies us with what we need and gives us the abundant life. Jesus came to end our vain and futile lives. To replace every hamartia or shortcoming with the abundance of God. Life is no longer a chasing of the wind. It is full of meaning, purpose and power.
Prateep V Philip