Solomon, the wisest man ,outside of Christ, wrote as his opening line to Ecclesiastes: “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Ecc. 1:2). He was referring to the emptiness of life lived apart from fearing God and keeping His commandments. When people make anything other than God their satisfaction (e.g., education, pleasure, laughter, houses, wealth, work, art, recreation), they experience vanity and vexation of spirit—emptiness and elusiveness. It is like trying to catch the wind.
What God says of this agenda is true, but man frames the worldly lifestyle completely differently. Take the Super Bowl for instance. For two weeks the sports world hypes the big game as the greatest show on Earth. At the end, one team will be the champion. Confetti falls on them, they raise the trophy in triumph, grown men cry, they say things like “this is the greatest moment of my life.” But what they claim is not what they keep. Don’t be fooled. Solomon’s words still ring out.
Satisfaction is in Christ. When you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, He gives you spiritual satisfaction. David said, “Thou has put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased” (Ps. 4:7). Recognize that the world cannot satisfy. Put the Lord first in all that you do, and you will have a fulfilled life. If not, vanity.