Vanity

 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 12:8 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/ecc.12.8.ESV

This is a surprising verse within a surprising book- about the meaninglessness of life- within the Bible which is about the meaning of life. The reason for the apparent discrepancy is that Ecclesiastes is about the meaninglessness of life 'under the sun', whereas the Bible as a whole often gives us a heavenly perspective. If we write our Creator out of the perspective, life becomes empty and pointless.

The 'Preacher' was in fact king Solomon of Israel. God gave him a blank cheque, and he chose to receive wisdom. His conclusion however was that even worldly wisdom was vanity.

Solomon tried a load of other things, conveniently beginning with 'W' in an attempt to find meaning in the world. Wine just gave him a headache. Women were similarly pleasurable, buy Solomon definitely overindulgence!

Work and wealth are two other 'W's that similarly aren't bad in and of themselves, but shouldn't be idolised, absolutised, or enjoyed in excess. There's nothing wrong with Solomon's 'W's intrinsically, but they aren't thr meaning of life. The only 'W' we don't need to be moderate about is our true meaning and purpose: which is to worship God, and to serve Him wholeheartedly.

'Dear Father God, please help us realise that life under the sun is empty. May we find wholeness as we worship and obey You. For Your honour and praise we pray, amen'

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