When men follow after vanity, they themselves become vain. An individual must make a conscious decision to turn from walking after the Lord to pursue vanity (Jeremiah 2:5). Those who follow after vanity are void of understanding (Proverbs 12:11) and end up in poverty (Proverbs 28:19), sometimes both spiritually and physically. David expressed his concern in this area when he said, “I have not sat with vain persons” (Psalm 26:4). He knew the danger of following vanity and declared that he refused even to sit with vain persons. In Psalm 119:37, the penman pleaded with the Lord for help in turning away his eyes from beholding vanity. God desires and wills for the saints of God to cease from following after vanity.
The book of Ecclesiastes contains documentation of Solomon’s life experiment apart from God. He examined the worth of subjects involving happiness, wealth, labour, and death. Ultimately, he concluded that life “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:14) was vanity. The word vanity means empty or meaningless. Though Solomon wrote extensively concerning vanity, he was not the only person in the Bible to declare the vanity of life. In fact, Solomon’s father David declared that “every man at his best state is altogether vanity” (Psalm 39:5). King David added that if both men of high and low degree were laid in a balance together, they would be “lighter than vanity” (Psalm 62:9). Thus, regardless of worldly accomplishments and accolades, a life void of God remains meaningless.
Dependability seems to be a diminishing virtue in each succeeding generation. Sealing a deal with a handshake and the saying “my word is my bond” are no longer dependable means of transacting business. Unfortunately, even God’s people are less dependable today than previous generations. The Bible describes the painful experience of dealing with unfaithful people by likening them to a broken tooth or a foot out of joint. A broken tooth exposes raw nerves and makes eating nigh impossible. A foot out of joint makes movement hopeless without assistance. The Bible warns not to place confidence in a broken tooth, a foot out of joint, or an unfaithful man. Believers should stand apart from the world in this regard by becoming more like God.
