“…for men to search their own glory is not glory.”- Proverbs 25:27 

Vanity is the beginning of the end to all that is, or once was good. It is a virus more deadly than Covid. There is no vaccine against it, but there is a cure. 

It occurred to me sometime ago that the corruption and ultimate downfall of an individual, family, group or even a country is measurable by four basic attributes: Vanity, Vulgarity, Vice and Violence. And, generally speaking, the decline seems to occur in that order beginning with vanity. If you’re flesh and blood, like me, you are as vulnerable to vanity as you are to a virus. And, if you think you’re not, well then, I regret to inform you, you’re testing positive. 

Vanity, and the pride in oneself it elicits, forever struggles to acquire the attention, respect, praise and even worship of others for whatever reason it is assumed to be deserved - be it social status, wealth, beauty, personal achievement, business success, political office or the power to dominate and control. 

When denied, it can frustrate and anger us to the point that we become hostile toward those around us who don’t agree and cooperate - first with vulgar words that we begin to insert into our arguments for emotional emphasis in an effort to passionately persuade the unconvinced that we are being shorted our due, followed by aggressive and offensive behaviors, hoping intimidation and fear might help us acquire what we covet until violence and rage are all that’s left to try get our way. In this writer’s view, it is the formula for war whether it culminates in a drunken brawl or a nuclear holocaust. 

For a thinking person, and a person of faith, it shouldn’t be hard to understand how and why one leads to the next. Confrontations seldom begin with intended violence, vulgarity or even vice - but instead with a seemingly harmless little trait called “vanity.” 

We see it all around us today, not just as a socially acceptable attribute, but something that many of today’s young people actually aspire to. Why? Because we have taught them by example and even encouraged it as a campy confidence-building exercise. We only seem to despise vanity when it accompanies personal failure, abject poverty or a plain appearance. And, while it’s easy to spot in others, it is rarely visible in a mirror. 

Those who manage to actually achieve the desired attention, respect, honor, praise, wealth and power they crave through vanity are seldom challenged by critics to reconsider their arrogance because, as the saying goes, “You can’t argue with success.” If you do, you’re just jealous, right? Or, how about this one? “If it’s true, then you ain’t bragging” - which to me is itself a rather hubristic and shortsighted view considering all “success” in this material world of ours has a shelf life - and not a long one at that. The truth is, life is short, people pass, memories fade and Earth’s history invariably sinks beneath the soil of time forgotten. 

Nevertheless, few dare to challenge another’s vanity in public today when it follows an accumulation of wealth, fame, beauty, status and/or power. By today’s convoluted standards, that’s considered a win. Because of this, entire careers are now built on vanity. It’s no longer about doing what’s right and being humble about it - it’s just about winning. And, in our egotistical exploits, winning is always right. So, vanity believes the end justifies the means regardless of what it leads to. 

As a country, we seem to have moved well beyond vanity, vulgarity and vice as evidenced by the widespread violence playing out in our homes, schools, churches, businesses, airports, restaurants, downtown streets and crowded subways as well as the marketplace and mainstream media - and yes, even in our own Nation’s Capitol. This is not a commentary on whether or not the events of January 6th were justified - merely an observation on where we are as “One Nation Under God.” 

From a biblical perspective, I’m convinced the solution to it is love. And, I don’t mean self-love either, but rather a selfless love. And, before you tough guys roll your eyes, let me add that a true and selfless love is not passive. It’s quite the opposite. If a man is to protect his wife and children from a hostile act, a hostile response might be necessary to save their lives. In doing so, would he be acting out of hate or out of love? 

When a soldier goes to war, is it out of hate for the enemy or out of a selfless love that risks it all for the country that he or she fights to defend? That war may have begun with the vanity of a leader and led to the vulgarity, vice and violence of a people, but it will surely take an act of selfless love - probably many of them, to end it, which can be quite humbling and healing in the pursuit of peace. 

Jesus said: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15;13) And, that is precisely what He did on the cross in an act of selfless love. He suffered and sacrificed Himself for our redemption - purchasing for us what we ourselves could not afford for an eternity with Him. 

So, if we are to save our increasingly violent and declining country from the chaos of this perilous road we’re on, perhaps we should humble ourselves before God and start saying no to vanity - not in others, where it might be obvious - but in ourselves, where it is almost invisible. 

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” - 2nd Chronicles: 7–14

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