The definition of vanity is having a lot of pride or conceit in your appearance or achievements. It also means worthless, emptiness, or something without value just like life apart from God is nothing.
Competing with others and living for self-praise is vanity. We must be on guard from vanity.
Remember God is Your Creator. Praise and adore Him! We are made in His image. The devil got caught up in himself and began to compete with God which led to his rebellion against God and his war against God. Self-worship is vain and dangerous. If you have been vain, repent and ask God to forgive you.
“The human heart has so many crannies where vanity hides, so many holes where falsehood lurks, is so decked out with deceiving hypocrisy, that it often dupes itself.” [1]
What does the Bible say?
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” [2]
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” [3]
Don’t make yourself an idol: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” [4]
“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” [5]
“Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless–like chasing the wind.” [6]
“Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return.” [7]
“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways.” [8]
“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones.” [9]
“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” [10]
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” [11]
“What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” [12]
“Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” [13]
“Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us for vain glory seeking. Help us to seek to only bring You glory all our days. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.”
[1] John Calvin - biblereasons.com/vanity
[2] Proverbs 31:30
[3] Proverbs 16:18
[4] 1 John 5:21
[5] 1 John 2:16
[6] Ecclesiastes 4:4
[7] Job 15:31
[8] Psalm 119:37
[9] Psalm 127:2
[10] Galatians 5:26
[11] Philippians 2:3-4
[12] 1 Corinthians 4:7
[13] Galatians 6:14
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