By Agbortem JC
Last Sunday, the readings of the Catholic Church were focused on one lesson; vanity. I attended mass in my parish as usual and the priest’s sermon inspired me to write this brief meditation. We all know the saying of King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes 1:2, “Vanity upon vanity, all is vanity;” but how often do we ponder on it true meaning in our lives? What is vanity then? According to my dictionary, vanity is something that is valueless or useless. Vanity therefore is anything we toil for day and night without as primary aim to glorify God. To me if I should work day and night to get something whatsoever and don’t use it for the glory of God then I am surrounded with vanity.
The doctrine of the Catholic Church teaches us that God created man to know him, love him, serve him and to live with him in eternal life. This gives us the clear meaning of our lives on earth. God created man for himself and to be his creature man must conform to the norms of God. Contrary to these, all is vanity!
God created man to know him: In order for man to attain the goal to which he is created, he must know his creator (God). He must understand his relationship with his creator so as to enter into proper friendship with him because you can’t be a friend of someone you know nothing of. This is the first task of man on earth; to know God.
God has been revealing himself to us in different ways so that we may know him and his loving kindness. (Hebrews 1:1-2) In our days God is revealing himself to us through his teachings from different men of God and various testimonies. He sent his son Jesus Christ to save us from sin and death just because he wanted us to know the power of his love and know him. (John 3:16-17). When a man does not place as his first goal to know God, he is living in vain. Therefore vanity for the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge!
God created man to love him: To love God means to have reverence of God. The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes concluded his writing with the saying; “Have reverence for God and obey his commandments because this is all human beings were created for.” (Ecc 12:13). Spiritually speaking, reverence for God means to put God first in all you do. (Exodus 20:1-3) Many men and women placed God first in their lives and they did not work on earth in vain. Mary the mother of Christ placed God first when she said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38) God’s words remind us everyday that we should always put God first in our lives if we want to reap the fruit of our labor. (Mathew 6:33). Whenever we fail to put God first no matter the condition, all we do is complete vanity.
God created man to Serve him: This is the greatest of all; to serve God. After knowing and loving God, we need to serve him. All we have comes from God (John 3:27) no matter how we may work for. Without God we can do nothing (Psalm 127:1-2). If all we have comes from God then we should use them for God’s glory. Our achievements should be geared towards the glory of God, be it education, job, etc. The gospel reading of last Sunday explains to us the negative and true consequences of selfishness. The parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21). God did not give you all that you have for yourself and you alone. He gave you so that through you others may witness his love. He gave you so that through you many will discover God’s goodness in their lives. He gave you so that you may be his instrument to mankind and he wants you to use it for that purpose alone. We all have something given to us by God! If we don’t use it for the god of man but for ourselves then we are all working for vanity. Vanity is not only material things or the continual quest for material things; it is more than that.
In the gospel of Mathew 25:31-46, Jesus gives us an illustration of our reward on the last day. Those who used what God gave them to serve God will receive eternal life and those who used what God gave them for vainglory will receive their reward in hell. Vanity upon vanity, all is vanity!
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