People in general, spend a lot of time sharpening their words to articulate their ideas to sell things, complete tasks within groups, and express themselves, just to name a few.  Before we humans begin doing what we do best, talking – we should spend more time thinking of what the end goal is. After all, using our words to accomplish a job to buy a car, just for the sake of buying the car – is rather empty. Or said another way – vain.

Vanity is one of those things that sneak up on us and that humans do extremely well in a life unexamined.

Consider what Solomon discovered in the Old Testament in the Book of Ecclesiastes,

Ecc 2:10  And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.  Ecc 2:11  Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

— Ecclesiastes 2: 10 – 11

Wow! That is a revelation.

Honestly speaking, most people you know will not understand the significance of the knowledge expressed here. Therefore, to sum it all up simply; verse 10 is about achieving great wealth, and verse 11 is about Solomon’s reflection after having achieved great riches and power.  If your labours are just to attain objects and power and money, it is just for vanity (to show off to others) and that strange feeling called ‘unfulfilled’ will remain. A strange type of curse (which truly is an accurate description according to the quote of “vexation of spirit). 

So what is the solution? Find what God has called you to do, and spend more time doing it. God has made us in His image and has made for us a number of jobs that will give us fulfillment with Him, and thus, ourselves too. Check out our post on What am I doing? to see how you can take the first step to finding your calling with God.