by Bobby L. Graham
When the apostle John condemned the world as unworthy of the Christian’s love, he spoke also of the essence of the world and the different ways in which Satan uses the world in his approaches to ensnare God’s people. You probably recall that he spoke of “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life” (1 John 2:16). We have often spoken and heard others speak about the first two of these expressions, whereas the last of the three frequently receives little notice.
The word here translated as vainglory appears in only one other place in the New Testament—James 4:16 (But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.). James’ word is rendered boastings in older versions and vauntings in some newer ones. Linguistic sources tell us the word actually meant the speech of a braggart. Lenski says that it meant hollow, vainglorious pretense. Whatever affects to promote one’s image or standing, especially on the basis of that which is empty (vain), would qualify as the vainglory of life, here condemned by the Lord’s apostle.
Do we ever rely on empty shells, of which we boast powerfully, as the foundation of our lives? Is it possible that we have come to depend upon what is vainglorious as if it were a solid base for our efforts or those of our children? Do we sometimes seek to advance their standing among their peers by resorting to popularity, physical beauty, or intellectual prowess?
A Modern Case
How often have we witnessed otherwise good parents trying to rush their little girls into the fashion market and the business of beauty? Early attempts to encourage their interest in such endeavors through all kinds of pageants and contests (many of which do not rely on indecent clothing), even by rewarding their outward attractiveness, have frequently been the early steps leading to spiritual oblivion and moral downfall later in life. One of the closing verses in the description of the worthy woman in Proverbs 31 speaks of favor as deceitful and beauty as vain (hollow). Failing to heed such warnings has created a false culture of beauty. It is not so much that outward attractiveness is wrong, but that our reliance on it for significance in life is a sin. As the years pass, those same small girls grow into young women, taking with them the attitudes fostered in the school of vanity (we don’t call that piece of bedroom furniture a vanity for no reason). By the time they reach their teens, they frequently have developed such a pride in self that they are beyond the reach of spiritual appeals. Why? They have heard and heeded countless words of encouragement to develop and to show their beauty and approval of their efforts and have won the accolades of a beauty-conscious society. They have learned to strut like peacocks (as in vauntings above). Those who fail to notice or to commend what others are commending no longer really count, because their values and principles are quite different. Spiritual oblivion has cast her shadow over them because they no longer count spiritual culture as very important. Moral compromise has often entered the picture, as they have begun inching ever closer to the indecent and immodest so they can flaunt their attractiveness. They sometimes have begun entering those pageants where they appear in swimsuits. In doing so, they have also worked themselves into a new circle of friends, people who share their newfound principles, values, and tastes. They have much less regard for God’s Word than they could have had with different training. Spiritual matters are no longer of very much concern to them. To them the Lord’s work is a bore and spiritual matters are trivia.
All that has been leading them down the path of vainglory has helped to instill a dependence on the hollow, the vain, the pretentious. While their speech might not be that of a braggart, their conduct, dress, and mannerisms “speak” loudly to call attention to their outward persons.
This case, based not on any single situation but on several occasions that this writer has encountered, is not imaginary. It is so real that it is frightening! It is only one area of vainglory. Elders, preachers, teachers, and parents need to know what vainglory is and do their best to equip people with proper attitudes so they can overcome it.