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

Ecclesiastes 1:2

You’re so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You’re so vain,
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you?
Don’t you?

Carly Simon

Definition: VANITY (wikipedia search)

The Latin term gloria roughly means boasting, although its English cognate – glory – has come to have an exclusively positive meaning; historically, the term vain roughly meant futile (a meaning retained in the modern expression “in vain”), but by the 14th century had come to have the strong narcissistic undertones, that it still retains today. As a result of these semantic changes, vainglory has become a rarely used word in itself, and is now commonly interpreted as referring to vanity (in its modern narcissistic sense).

Cultural Understanding: What VANITY has become.

The last phrase in the definition gives the clue: narcissism, love of self.  Not only is it referring to Whitney Houston’s famous lyric, “The greatest love of all is learning to love yourself”, but modern-day vanity is now promoting yourself, indulging yourself and being obsessed with yourself. Selfies and Instagrams are the products of this new kind of vanity. Tik Tok hits and Facebook likes are the goals of vanity. And of course, trying to get your coveted 15 minutes of fame on the silver screen. When I am publically seen and appreciated the better and more significant I must be.

Vanity’s belief is simple, the more of me the better for the world.

Biblical Perspective: “Why is VANITY empty?”

1 Corinthians 4:7 addresses the issue plainly, “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” In other words, everything about you is not from you, it was given.

Your looks, intellect, athletic prowess, artistic talent are all blessings from God. So when you want people to see you as the source you are missing the point, you in and of yourself, have nothing to give. All you are is an image bearer, not a light giver. You can reflect God’s goodness, but you can not generate it. 

Vanity is empty because if you bring people to see only you, you have nothing to give them. And face it, you are a piece of fragile clay. “We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power, is from God AND NOT FROM US.”  (2 Cor. 4:7) Vanity is playing make-believe wanting others to play along with you. And guess what, you have nothing to offer others but clay.

Moral  Perspective: “Why is VANITY wrong?”

The answer is implied in the above argument, because people need more than you. You cannot save. Jesus is very blunt in the book of John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Nothing, did you get that? One philosopher described what nothing is, “It is what rocks dream about.”

I would even say this, vanity often is a denial of the greatness of Jesus. If our job is to point people to Jesus and we want them to stop on us we are denying him. And worse, we are not doing what we have been created to do. Believe it or not, that was Satan’s great downfall. The magnificent angel fell in love with himself and wanted to become like God:

“Your heart became proud
    on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom
    because of your splendor.
So I threw you to the earth;
    I made a spectacle of you before kings.” (Ezekiel 28:17)

“You said in your heart,
    “I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
    above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
    on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
    I will make myself like the Most High.”
But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
    to the depths of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:13-15)

Practically Speaking: VANITY Applied

So then, how shall I live? 

First, ask yourself, “Why am I here?” Am I here to look good? If you are pretty it isn’t your fault, but stop stopping at yourself. Move past the mirror and see the beauty in others first. 

Secondly, stop making your activities about how beautiful you look or how wonderful your experiences are compared to everyone else’s. A sunset isn’t beautiful because you saw it, it is beautiful because God made it. Give him credit and realize you are not the only one who can see beautiful sunsets. You are not the only person who has looked upon a snow-covered mountain crest or heard the warbling of a red cardinal in spring. Stop taking credit that you were there and give God credit that he allowed you to see it.

Remember, you are not the only one who has eaten a healthy salad. Millions of other people have eaten guacamole dip too.

The Conclusion of the Matter:

“Remember your Creator
    in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
    and the years approach when you will say,
    “I find no pleasure in them”  (Ecc. 12:1)

Lesson One: Clay doesn’t last long.

Lesson Two: If you only cared about the clay, you will lose precious time with the maker of the clay and find it was all empty.

“Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.” (Ecc. 12:13-14)

Lesson Three: God is adding it up, service for him and time before the mirror. Which one do you spend more time on? And the one that wins is your God.

So, who do you worship?