"Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity." (Eccl. 1: 2) Contemporary culture tends to think of vanity as excessive self regard. A culture obsessed with appearances can be tempted to think that things are what they appear to be and ignore the deeper truth. In the context we are given today "vanity" means more than that. It has a sense of "futility" or "in vain." St Paul writes: "... for creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope..." (Rom 8: 20) It is not just my good looks that are destined to fade! The tangible and material are destined to pass away. Christians, therefore, live contrary to their faith if they are fixated on money, social status and possessions: "... because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal." (2 Cor 4: 18) We need to be convinced, in this materialistic age more than ever, that our work for the Kingdom is what constitutes true and everlasting value: "Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain." (1 Cor 15: 58)
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