Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
The saying is Solomon's lament and verdict after painstaking research, persevering inquiry, and painstaking efforts with great learning that everything is vanity. His wealth, power, glory, fame, and surroundings of great beauty could not make him happy. His idolatry and lack of God's peace left him disappointed and without contentment.
All human wisdom apart from Christ is altogether vanity and foolishness in God's eyes. Even what the world calls superior education and the utmost exertion of intellectual powers leaves a person ignorant before God. By unaided efforts no one can find out God, stand in moral independence free from sin, or gain strength of character molded after the divine similitude. The nothingness of human wisdom and the folly of trying to find out God alone is the most humbling lesson to learn.
Sending out party invitations and seeking social amusement is empty and foolish when serious family duty is neglected. This is seen when a daughter amuses herself instead of staying by her sick brother who has just escaped death and helping her mother worn out with watching. Such pleasure-seeking carries little weight for the serious things of life and leaves no lasting solemn impression on the mind.
The saying is Solomon's lament and verdict after painstaking research, persevering inquiry, and painstaking efforts with great learning that everything is vanity. His wealth, power, glory, fame, and surroundings of great beauty could not make him happy. His idolatry and lack of God's peace left him disappointed and without contentment.
All human wisdom apart from Christ is altogether vanity and foolishness in God's eyes. Even what the world calls superior education and the utmost exertion of intellectual powers leaves a person ignorant before God. By unaided efforts no one can find out God, stand in moral independence free from sin, or gain strength of character molded after the divine similitude. The nothingness of human wisdom and the folly of trying to find out God alone is the most humbling lesson to learn.
Sending out party invitations and seeking social amusement is empty and foolish when serious family duty is neglected. This is seen when a daughter amuses herself instead of staying by her sick brother who has just escaped death and helping her mother worn out with watching. Such pleasure-seeking carries little weight for the serious things of life and leaves no lasting solemn impression on the mind.