Eccl1:14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind
If there is any man that can lecture us on what vanities are, King Solomon is a consultant in that regard.
When you talk about wealth that made the forbes list in his time, he had it. As a matter of fact in history, King Solomon's wealth is the greatest of all times.
If we calculate inflation and re value his asset based on current inflation, no man on earth has beaten his record. Articles in his palace were made of gold( 1Kings10:21) and he built a magnificient temple.
That's a temple that was built without much noise of beating, why? The stones used were prepared at the quarry and were fixed into the building like puzzles till it became magnificient, 1Kings6:7.
Even though there are bigger cathedrals today, none is hewned with stones like Solomon's cathedral.
What about keeping a harem of women? King Solomon was an Emeritus Professor in that regard. No man living on earth or that has ever lived has beaten him to that.
How he managed 700 wives and 300 concubines remains a mystery(1Kings11). How he shared his bed with them is not something we can imagine. He had men and maidservant, Ecc2:7-8.
In Israel's history, he didn't fight war, he experienced all-round peace yet, he called his pursuit and possessions vanities.
What are you living for? Some are in a hot chase after the things of this world, the things Solomon called vanities.
The chase after trends is alarming. Some have killed, cheated and compromised because of i-phone. The way some persons are looking for money at all cost is quite disturbing.
The "theology" of some is totally in support of the pursuit of vanities. When preaching and teaching is about material things and boasts are made about how they have acquired the things that are prone to destruction, it sets the hearts of people to pursue vanity.
Jesus said, "...Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth( Luke 12:15 KJV(.
All through the life time of Jesus on earth, it wasn't recorded that he built a mansion(Luke9:58) yet he did God's perfect will. His teachings was never about how he acquired earthly things but about the kingdom.
He told us to seek God's kingdom first but we have reversed the order and instituted our priorities upside down. Some are seeking those things first and forsaken the kingdom.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need ( Matthew 6:33 NLT).
The day you close your eyes in death and go six feet into the ground, it will dawn on you that nothing in this world is worth dying for and only eternity matter most.
I pray it won't be too late before you realize that.
Father, I receive grace not to pursue vanities In Jesus name.