The Choice of Vanity or Works of Blessings

Prayer-Soldier

The Choice of Vanity or Works of Blessings

Scripture:

Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes: vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.

For when a man labors in wisdom, and knowledge, and carefulness, he leaves what he has gotten to an idle man: so this also is vanity, and a great evil. For what profit shall a man have of all his labor, and vexation of spirit, with which he has been tormented under the sun? All his days are full of sorrows and miseries, even in the night he does not rest in mind: and is not this vanity? (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23)

Therefore if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. For you are dead: and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ shall appear, who is your life, then you also shall appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: immorality, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence and covetousness, which is the service of idols.

Lie not one to another: stripping yourselves of the old man with his deeds, and putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him. Where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all and in all. (Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11)

And one of the multitude said to him: Master, speak to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me. But he said to him: Man, who has appointed me judge or divider over you? And he said to them: Take heed and beware of all covetousness: for the life of a man does not consist in the abundance of things which he possesses. And he spoke a similitude to them, saying: The land of a certain rich man brought forth plenty of fruits. And he thought within himself, saying: What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said: This will I do: I will pull down my barns and will build greater: and into them will I gather all things that are grown to me and my goods. And I will say to my soul: Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years. Take your rest: eat, drink, make good cheer. But God said to him: you fool, this night do they require your soul of you. And whose shall those things be which you have provided? So is he that lays up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God. (Luke 12:13-21)

Reflection:

The days of our lives are short with many choices for how to spend our time. We each have different dreams and different desires for how we wish to spend our lives. Some wander without aim while others seek great goals. For each, the question is, to what purpose should we put the use of our time? If we seek the ways of the world, we receive the rewards of the world, but if we seek the ways of heaven we receive the rewards of heaven.

Great monuments and buildings stand as testaments of the works of men and woman, but time takes its toll and what was built will fall. Empires stand for but years before they are replaced. What purpose, then, is served if what is built from the ground returns to the ground?

We may strive for money or fame. We may strive for pleasures, but no matter what we seek, it will whither to dust. What is received from the world will be lost to the world. Only that which we seek through Him is eternal. What we seek from the world, then, is vain. What we seek from Him is forever.

Though He passed from the world, He did not die from the world for He rose to conquer death and to open the gates to heaven for all who believe in Him. If our faith is in the world, we will pass with the world, but if our faith is in Him, we will pass from the world to His kingdom, the kingdom of heaven.

In each other we see differences. We are all created of the same Creator, yet we turn against one another in jealousy, anger and violence for things which will not last and position which will fade away. The conflicts of the world are sown from our sin for we do not comprehend the value of pursuits which yield eternal blessings. What we seek in greed isolates us from the blessings of that which only He can give.

He came to teach us a better way, a way of love for God and love for one another. How great are the possibilities of a people who follow His Word, for no selfish hand would be raised against another? His Word is the way to blessings for all, but through the generations, leaders have fallen to corruption and armies have fought; even those who profess faith in Him become blinded by the ambitions of the world and the lures to judge and oppress. Avarice and lust overwhelms the heart for power, pride and things which will pass away and turn to dust. The innocent and poor suffer at the hands of manipulators.

The power is within the hands of the children of His creation to leave behind the darkness of the world. In prayer, we should ask to be led to the path of light so that we do not fall to the snares of darkness. Through prayer, we should ask Him that our heart may be guided so we may set our sins aside. In prayer, we should reflect upon how we may use our talents in selflessness rather than selfishness. Those who turn to His ways in reflection and deed will spread blessings around them. Those who turn to His ways will walk a better path.

To what purpose, then, do we put the pursuits of our time? We may gather many things for our comfort, but for what purpose do we pursue the world if it shall all be lost in a moment? We must do that which will bring the next hour, but we do not know the day we will spend our last hour. In that moment, what we have saved of the world will be left to the world, but what we save in the soul will pass with us to eternity. If we store up darkness, we will pass to the darkness. If we store up love we will pass to an eternity of love.

Let our hands, then, turn to pursuits of love and charity over pursuits of wealth and power. Let our hands, then, turn to great works in caring for one another. Let our hands, then, yield blessings and comfort. Let our hearts, then, turn to love Him and one another, for it is the blessings of love which light the path to everlasting life.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier