Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
—Ecclesiastes 1:2
Solomon is the perfect portrait of opulence. He had it all. In a single sentence, he summarized it: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure” (Eccl 2:10).
Even so, he came up empty: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity,” he said. Webster defines vanity as “something that is vain, empty, or valueless.” Some versions translate “vanity” as “meaningless” or “futile.”
It is futile to set one’s hope on the uncertainty of wealth (1 Tm 6:7–10, 17).
It is futile to seek honor and position above others (Mk 10:35–45).
It is futile to gratify the desires of the sinful nature, which culminate in eternal destruction (Gal 5:16–17, 19–21).
It is futile to wish to live long while being careless about living well (Ps 90:10–12).
Vanity is self-deceptive and self-destructive.