Vanity of Vanities

"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 1:2; 12: 8)

Existentialists talk much about the meaninglessness of life, about its hopelessness and utter vanity, about its nothingness, about how life is nothing but a trap, with very little of real freedom, but with much bondage. It is the philosophy of the wicked and anti-Christian, Neitzche. It is the philosophy of Hitler and the Nazis too.

This does not mean that there is not some truth in these philosophies. Rarely is falsehood sold widescale without some mixture of truth with the leaven of the error. After all, what the wise and inspired Hebrew king and philosopher, Solomon, said about life being all vanity, is very similar to what the existentialists and those in youth "Gothic cults" constantly tell themselves. Life is vanity - it is meaningless - it is all one big chaotic void without form and without sense. One must not seek for meaning in life but create it themselves.

Solomon only gives us the perspective of fallen man, man as he is in his condemned and hopeless state, man without a Redeemer and Savior. Life is not all vanity for the Christian. However, without Christ and without his salvation, all is indeed "vanity and vexation of spirit."

Life is nothing but vanity for the sinner who lives a life of rebellion against God and who refuses God's offers of mercy. His life has no purpose or real meaning. He sees in boredom, dread, and in the human condition, nothing of meaning, and in his despair, he gives up on life having any meaningful purpose.

"Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them." (Psalm 39: 6)

Notice that the Psalmist speaks of this vanity as being universal in man. It is part of his sinful and fallen condition. All man does is vain because he makes himself the chief end of all he does. He does not live for God but for himself.

"Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man." (Psalm 60: 11 & 108: 12)

Men show their vanity by the things in which they put their trust. They trust in idols of vanity, in that which is unworthy of trust.

"I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love." (Psalm 119: 13)

But, it is part of the nature of fallen man to love his vain thoughts. It is only as God converts the mind that one is able to turn from vain thoughts to wholesome thoughts. The Scriptures speak of "vain persons." (Proverbs 12:11; 28: 19)

All men are "vain persons." Some simply act out their inner vanity in superior ways and degrees, and these we especially know and label as "vain persons." "Vain thoughts" (Jeremiah 4: 14) predominate in the carnal minds of fallen and depraved sinners.

"For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?" (Ecclesiastes 6: 12)

Friends, is your life empty and meaningless? Do you see the vanity in all earthly pursuits that our made outside of the will of God and apart from Christ?

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