Greetings ladies!
Our next reading challenge is to read the book of Ecclesiastes 1 - 12.
This book teaches us that some things in life is "full of vanity" and that everything in life is meaningless and endless. What is this author talking about? The author of this book experienced all things of the "good life" which is full of wealth and gratification. He realized that all of the things that he has and is able to obtain still does not satisfy him.
Vanity is excessive pride in or high admiration for something or themselves. There has been times in my life where I experienced vanity. I took pride in how I looked and how I dressed. I admired the personal achievements I achieved when I was younger, until God humbled me and made me realize that it is worthless, if it doesn't glorify Him.
The more I lacked in operating in a spirit of vanity, the more God kept on blessing me and my family. The more I gained a spirit of contentment and peace in life about whatever season I was in at that moment, whether good or bad. Vanity doesn't allow you to produce in God's strength and in His perfect will. Vanity can cause us to try to accomplish things in our own strength and get side-tracked from the real purpose in why we are choosing to accomplish something. Vanity can cause us to become competitive and ambitious about things that was never meant for us to have because we want to keep up with those around us.
As the book of Ecclesiastes have quoted, "It is all meaningless." When we have gained all that we have, what more is there to get? It's like a vapor or smoke in the air that slowly fades away once the joy we experienced when we first gained it but then we find ourselves wanting more or better. Vanity keeps us stressed and unsatisfied but when we have Jesus, we can accomplish all that we are called to accomplish in our lives through purpose, contentment and peace.
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