"We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don't care for." ~ Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach- Austrian Writer
The word VANITY conjures up various images. Some think about a person with excessive pride in, or admiration of, their own appearance, abilities, achievements, or worth. I can hear Carly Simon singing, "You're so vain. I bet you think this song is about you, don't you?" Others envision a dressing table bathroom unit where they comb their hair or put on makeup. If you were young in the 1980's, you might have instantaneously thought of Vanity, the girlfriend of the artist formerly known as Prince, who starred in the movie Purple Reign. However, the most common meaning of the word VANITY in the Bible is the quality of being worthless or futile. It derives from the Latin vanus or "empty." The root VAIN means producing no result; useless; having no meaning or likelihood of fulfillment.
The most notable use VANITY in Scripture comes from king Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes 1:1-2 "The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” This Hebrew word hebel means vapor, breath, a dilution, a fleeting, futile, and empty fraud. Solomon uses this word VANITY to describe almost every human life situation. The ways of the earth, the sea, sun, wind, and everything in the environment—meaningless. The labor with which we occupy ourselves, or passing life from one generation to the next—all useless. That's just Chapter 1!
9History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. 10Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. 11We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.
Solomon's writings made me wonder why we become so stressed, worried, anxious, and preoccupied with trivial things that will not last over eternal things that will. Solomon tested everything: pleasure, money, power, status, sex, wisdom, work—all futile. In Ecc. 2:
21Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. 22So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? 23Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.
King Solomon explored all the things that occur in the vicissitudes (changes) of this life: birth, death, sorrow, joy, laughter, tears, love, hate, war and peace, justice and injustice. (Chap. 3) In Ecclesiastes 4:4 "Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind." I could go on and on. The more I read, the more my perspectives were challenged. Perhaps we are taking ourselves too seriously. Finally, Solomon warns his son in Chapter 12:12-13,"...Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man." | 
