What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 1:3
Today we see how people struggle tirelessly to get rich, chasing success, fame, comfort, and earthly security. While it is not wrong to desire to live comfortably, danger comes when money becomes the first priority in our lives. When wealth takes the central place in the heart, everything else is pushed aside—love, humility, faith, generosity, and compassion. The little love we once had begins to fade away, replaced by the love of money. And let us remember what the Word of God clearly teaches: “the love of money is the root of all evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10). It is not money itself that is evil, but a heart consumed by it.
King Solomon, the wisest man of his time, reminded everyone that everything is vanity. All human achievements, possessions, and pursuits are temporary. We cannot anchor our hearts in what will one day perish. Solomon teaches us that life “under the sun” — that is, life lived merely from an earthly perspective — eventually leads to emptiness. The heavens and the earth themselves will pass away, as Scripture says, but “he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” (1 John 2:17). This should shape our priorities and remind us that eternity matters far more than temporary gain.
The preacher also teaches that it is not sinful to possess riches; the real issue lies in how we use them and what place they occupy in our hearts. Wealth can be a blessing when used with wisdom, generosity, and humility. But when riches dominate our thoughts and affections, vanity creeps into our lives and takes the first place—just as we see happening in today’s world. Every material possession, every achievement, and every earthly pleasure will eventually fade, and none of it can satisfy the soul.
Many people proudly say, “I have plenty of money. I deserve to enjoy it. I can travel anywhere and do whatever I want.” But in doing so, they forget that every earthly pleasure is temporary. They ignore a crucial truth: one day every human being will give an account before God for everything done on this earth, whether good or evil. Riches cannot buy eternal life, cannot save a soul, and cannot secure a place in heaven. What matters is a heart surrendered to God.
Consider Jesus Christ—rich, powerful, Creator of all things. Yet He humbled Himself, became poor, and came into this world born in a manger. He did this so that both the rich and the poor could learn from His humility, His simplicity, and His sacrificial love. Christ showed us that true greatness is not found in wealth or social status but in obedience to the Father and in loving others.
The preacher in Ecclesiastes repeats: “All is vanity.” Everything under the sun fades away. Therefore, the only way to escape the emptiness of vanity is to place our lives in Christ Jesus. Through Him we can be saved, redeemed, and transformed. Through Him we can abandon every vain pursuit that blinds our hearts. And for this transformation to occur, we must draw near to the Almighty God—the One who forgives sin, heals our wounds, restores our souls, and leads us to eternal life.
And finally, remember this truth deeply: all is vanity under the sun. Do not let vanity flood your heart, your mind, your soul, your spirit, your family, your friendships, or any area of your life. Vanity can cause you to lose everything—even your own life. But a heart anchored in Christ will endure forever. God bless you.
9 comments on “The World and the Vanities”
Am blessed
Amenooooo
I LOVE YOU MY HEAVEN FATHER
Amen
Lord help me to live for you. Give me more of your wisdom . Thanks for the teaching God blue you.
Amen all is vanity
Amen amen wonderfull mesage vanity is actualy the first thing for many people
AMEN
The World and Vanities
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In the world we live, the idea or attitude that people have about wealth, is to have money and goods to enjoy; and, in most cases, they get that money so they can spend it in vanities—often to accumulate yet more things and increase their riches.
People in this world, in general, are unbelievers who reject God and his Word, and they don’t care what the will of God may be or what vanity really means… That is, what vanity means from the point of view of God’s wisdom. King Solomon said:
“Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”
(Ecclesiastes 1:2)
Then he explains to us a paradox of life: that man who accumulate riches and who does not have anyone to inherit them when he dies. This is vanity, he said.
Or, similarly, vanity is also to get more food than what someone can eat, and then leftovers are thrown in the bin; while other people are starving or die of hunger. This is vanity and could provoke God’s wrath on men.
Another thing is we should avoid being carried away by our consumer society, also encouraged by political actions that make people squande their money or resources.
Solomon continues writing and tells us:
‘What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun?”
Ecclesiastes 1:3
Men and women are working hard everywhere on this land; but for what thing? What profit does a man or woman have from all their labor they are engaged in every day?
“All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing” (verse 1:8).
The teaching we receive is that food or material things cannot fill people’s souls. This is because people have been formed in the image of God: so they need to be with God; their souls will only, truly enjoy themselves if they are in the presence of God—a being whose essence is quite different to that of things that perish, and who therefore makes us seek for things which endure for eternal life
(John 6:27).
So, the children of God in this world ought to seek things of above: “seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)
“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God”
(Ecclesiastes 2:24).
To people on this earth, nothing is left (concerning their labor here) but that their souls will enjoy good in their labor, and in the fruits of their labor, which is given by God.
May the Lord God give us wisdom to manage well all our resources, and to use them according to our real needs—and may this be for God’s glory