Overflow Daily...ish: All is Vanity

"Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity."

Ecclesiastes 1:2 (ESV)

Happy New Year Everyone! What a somber text of Scripture to be selected for the opening Blog article for the new year! Why would it even be appropriate for us to have this in the Scriptures? This does not motivate us or cause us to stand up and scream in excitement. It does not create in us incalculable energy to take on the new year. If anything, it is about as enjoyable as flooding rain on a ticker tape parade. And yet, we open the year in our Bible Reading plan with these words found in the book of Ecclesiastes.

In the New Year, many of us are caught up in a whirlwind of emotion and enthusiasm for how we will conquer the new year. For some, it means finally starting, and finishing, the diet we had planned so many years ago. Or actually using the gym membership we purchased for longer than 3 months. Others may have other activities they plan to accomplish as they resolve to become better intellectually, socially, or even spiritually. Now in no way am I saying that it is wrong to make a new year’s resolutions, so long as they are not unbiblical ones. But we should never forget that in all seasons and in every day, the people of God are called to live for His glory and for His glory alone.

We must be reminded that if we place our hope and satisfaction in the things of this world, then truly it is vanity of vanities, a chasing after the wind. We will, like previous attempts/years, continue to be frustrated and bitter with our lives because we are not centered in the only solid, true foundation. It is only when we live in the fear of the Lord that we truly can enjoy God’s good and prefect gifts for us.

And so, in 2019, my prayer is that the people of God will resolve to give thanks to God who gives us the strength to get through each day (Ps 115:1; 1 Cor 10:31; Eph 3:16). To resolve to praise him without ceasing and with humility knowing that he has granted eternal life to all who repent from their sins and place their faith in Jesus (1 Thess 5:16). To resolve to “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [our] God” (Mic 6:8b)

Have a Blessed New Year,

Pastor Alex

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