What Must We Do?

Vanity of vanities, our Old Testament lesson begins. It certainly is a depressing text. Yet it is a thought that we all have had at one time or another. What does it all mean? What is the worth of doing things that others will enjoy? How many songs have been written that express this same thought? While it comes off as a depressing text, that is not the purpose of it. So what is it all about?

This text from Ecclesiastes is so well known it is often quoted by the secular world. I have heard it as a rebuke to those who have a lot of things. At least more than the person who quotes these verses. While they may think these verses are directed at the rich, they are written to make the reader ponder about what is true and important in life. The word “vanity” in Hebrew can also mean vapor or even illusion. Those who think that what they possess makes them important, is their identity, or makes them one with God are fooled by their own thoughts. Who they are is not determined by what they have, think, can do, or even do. That is clearly vanity – putting yourself on the same level as God and forgetting what God has done; Who God is.

We read this text today because the gospel reading is the parable of the rich fool. His fields have yielded so much that he cannot store all of it. What must he do? His plan was to build bigger storage units and keep it for himself. He believed that the yield of his fields (even the fields themselves) were his. “Fool” says God. Vanity of vanities says the writer of Ecclesiastes. Although we must admit that we have often succumbed to the same belief. It is hard not to in these days. All you need to do is to turn on the television and you will be bombarded by advertisements that tell you they have things that you deserve. Social media does the same thing telling you what you want to hear and do. Do not be fooled, they are only more examples of vanity. Vaporous illusions that hope to trap you into bondage. 

Paul reminds us that, before Christ, is where we were – in bondage to sin and death. But now, we have been freed from bondage and made children of God through his life, death, and resurrection. That is our identity. We are children of God, sisters and brothers of Christ. Not because we deserve it but because God loves us. Filled with God’s love and freed from bondage we are able to see the vanity of our beliefs and see God as the giver of all things. Once we are made whole by the love of God in Christ Jesus we are able to tear down our barns that prevent us from sharing God’s gifts with others and open our lives to the care and redemption of all that God has made.

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity except the gift of love in Christ Jesus that only comes from God. You have been given that gift and made whole. Pray that you will always be thankful of God’s gifts to you. So thankful that you will always share those gifts with those who have as yet not experienced the love of God.