“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). The word translated as “vanity” also means “emptiness”. The word vain means “self importance” and “not producing fruit”. Vanity is pride in ones self that does not produce any usable fruit. Vanity is what makes a man a tare in the body of Christ. The emptiness is not from an emptying out of self to be refilled, but being so full of self that there is no room for anything of real value. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes is telling us that mankind is so vain about being full of self and empty of God that we cannot find God or peace. For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity (Ecclesiastes 2:22-23). The preacher is writing about mankind following the will (desires and purposes) of man.
Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind (Ecclesiastes 2:17). God gives a talent, and mankind buries the talent in the earth – self importance buries the talent within the man made of the dust of the earth. God uses a man for His own purpose, and the person gets proud and lords it over others in their service to God. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity (Ecclesiastes 2:19). These are the ways of mankind and the doctrines of mankind ruling in vain even within the Church. That is the captivity of the Church God is bringing to an end.
When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:13-14). When our labor is in vain – when our works are fruitless, and what grows is eaten by the locus – when we are ill – God calls us to humble our self (empty out our self importance and go to Him) and pray; then He will heal our land; God will heal the dust of the earth that He made us out of. The dust will become clay in His hands, and our will molded into His desires. Praise God!
© 2010, Tim D. Coulter Sr.