I have been reading through the book of Ecclesiastes again and getting bumped with this thing of vanity. The word “vanity” as used in this book seems to cover the idea of things that are in the last evaluation empty and quite meaningless. And the book observes that we as mankind are nonetheless drawn to these meaningless things, things that in the end are really useless and unimportant.
Let me attempt to cite a present cultural event that may expose some of this “magnetism” of vanity. It is the football season and much of America is again caught up in the excitement and enthusiasm of the game. The big headlines reflect new records of achievement and we woo and wow over completed passes and yards run and what really are exceptional athletic achievements. But to what end? Of what real value are these achievements? And furthermore it has become apparent that due to our fickleness with these achievements we have come to overlook moral and cultural issues. It has not been until just lately and due to some legal actions and the embarrassment of some league officials that any attention whatever is being given to moral deviations.
Somehow it seems we are just more greatly attracted to things that are in the end vain. We spend thousands upon thousands of dollars and we hoot and holler over these vain athletic achievements while we give little more than lip-service to the sacrifices of our service men and women. Other things of course, could be cited. Faithful men and women that stay together and raise their children with love, dedication and discipline are one great foundation of our society.
Did you know that we have homeless school children in our community? How is it that parents can abandon their children? You will likely find that these parents have come to value their own freedoms and happiness above their commitments to one another and their children. They are just caught up in vanity! In the end you will find that they are just pursuing their own happiness to their own shame. VANITY! Things just don’t seem to change.
