Vanity is another name for foolish expectation and
for useless pretense. Some people expect too much from the good things of this world. Others pretend to be bigger
than they really are and try to attract more attention than they deserve. Vanity of vanities,
and all is vanity for those who do not love Him, or refuse to follow His commandments. Nothing is permanent under
the sun. When you love anything for its own sake, and not because it helps you do His will, you are a victim of vanity. Death
shall take all these things away from you, and nothing will be left. It is vanity
to strive too intently for perishable riches and to fix your hopes on them. It is vanity also to
be over-eager for honors, or to consider yourself better than others. It is vanity to follow blindly
the desires of the flesh and to want things which will bring a great penalty later on. It is
vanity to wish for a long life while caring little about living a good life. It is vanity to give your
entire attention to the present life without thinking of the life which will come later. It is vanity
to love only what is speedily passing away, instead of fixing your heart on Heaven -- the home of endless joy.
