Vanity: Childhood and Youth Are
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The concept of "vanity" in the Bible often refers to the fleeting, transient, and ultimately unfulfilling nature of worldly pursuits and human endeavors. This theme is particularly evident in the book of Ecclesiastes, where the Preacher, traditionally understood to be King Solomon, reflects on the meaning of life and the futility of earthly pleasures and achievements.

In Ecclesiastes 11:10, the Berean Standard Bible states, "So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting." This verse highlights the transient nature of youth and the vigor associated with it. The admonition to "banish sorrow" and "cast off pain" suggests a recognition of the temporary nature of youthful vitality and the importance of focusing on what is eternal and meaningful.

The phrase "childhood and youth are vanity" is further explored in Ecclesiastes 12:1, where the Preacher advises, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them.'" This exhortation underscores the importance of acknowledging God and living a life oriented towards Him from a young age, recognizing that the vigor and enthusiasm of youth will inevitably fade.

From a biblical perspective, the vanity of childhood and youth is not a condemnation of these stages of life but rather a call to understand their limitations and to seek a deeper, more enduring purpose. The fleeting nature of youth serves as a reminder to prioritize spiritual growth and a relationship with God over the temporary pleasures and pursuits that often characterize these early years.

The Bible consistently teaches that true fulfillment and meaning are found not in the transient experiences of youth but in a life lived in accordance with God's will. As such, the vanity of childhood and youth serves as a caution against placing ultimate value on temporal experiences and encourages a focus on eternal truths.

In the broader biblical narrative, the theme of vanity is a call to wisdom, urging individuals to seek understanding and to live in a way that honors God. The recognition of the vanity of youth is an invitation to invest in what is lasting and to cultivate a life that reflects the values of the Kingdom of God.
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Ecclesiastes 11:10
Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
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Library

Our Last ChapterConcluded with the Words, "For Childhood and Youth ...
... CHAPTER XII. Our last chapter concluded with the words, "For childhood
and youth are vanity"? Our last chapter concluded with ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter xii our last chapter.htm

Solomon's Repentance
... Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh:
for childhood and youth are vanity." Ecclesiastes 11:7-10. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 5 solomons repentance.htm

We are Drawing Near the End, and to the Highest Conclusions of ...
... with an evident solemn sincerity he counsels "Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart,
and put away evil from thy flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity.". ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter xi we are drawing.htm

Days of Conflict
... She witnessed with sorrow the trials brought upon Him in His childhood and youth. ...
He weeded all vanity from life, and by His own example taught that every ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 9 days of conflict.htm

Importance of the Time of Youth; Difficulties and Dangers that ...
... only the levity and negligences of childhood to repair ... that, if the passions peculiar
to youth virulently assail ... and the dangerous snares of vanity or pleasure ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter i importance of the.htm

Sin in the Heart the Source of Error in the Head
... Compare the Edward Gibbon whose childhood expanded under ... devout William Law, and
whose youth exhibited unwonted ... draws iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/sin in the heart the.htm

Infancy and Youth of Jesus --His First Impressions.
... he spent the first years of his youth there ... but little beyond the familial limits
of his childhood. ... countless falterings, and in spite of the universal vanity. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter ii infancy and youth.htm

Sowing in the Wind, Reaping under Clouds
... true,". 10. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from
thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. "Remove ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/sowing in the wind reaping.htm

The Use of Fear in Religion.
... "Childhood and youth," saith the Preacher, "are vanity." The opening period in human
life is the happiest part of it, if we have respect merely to the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/shedd/sermons to the natural man/the use of fear in.htm

The Early Life of Malachy. Having Been Admitted to Holy Orders He ...
... So he thought"and did; knowing that apart from deeds the thoughts of man are
vanity.[178]. ... He was born early in 1080. Of his childhood and youth we know ...
/.../chapter i the early life.htm

Resources
What does it mean that we have eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11)? | GotQuestions.org

How should a Christian view bodybuilding / weightlifting? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about narcissism? | GotQuestions.org

Vanity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Vanity

Vanity: A Consequence of the Fall

Vanity: All Earthly Things Are

Vanity: All should Know and Acknowledge

Vanity: Alms Giving Without Charity Is

Vanity: Almsgiving Without Love Is

Vanity: Avoid

Vanity: Avoid Those Given To

Vanity: Childhood and Youth Are

Vanity: Every Man Has

Vanity: Every Man Is

Vanity: Every State of Man Is

Vanity: Evil People: Allure Others Through the Words of

Vanity: Evil People: Devise

Vanity: Evil People: Especially Characterized By

Vanity: Evil People: Imagine

Vanity: Evil People: Inherit

Vanity: Evil People: Judicially Given up To

Vanity: Evil People: Live By

Vanity: Evil People: Live In

Vanity: Evil People: Love

Vanity: Evil People: Reap

Vanity: Evil People: Regard God's Service As

Vanity: Evil People: Speak

Vanity: Evil People: Though Full of, Affect to be Wise

Vanity: Faith Without Works Is

Vanity: False Teaching is But

Vanity: Following Those Given To, Leads to Poverty

Vanity: Foolish Questions Are

Vanity: Fools Follow Those Given To

Vanity: Heaping up Riches Is

Vanity: Idolatry Is

Vanity: Love of Riches Is

Vanity: Lying Words Are

Vanity: Man at his Best Estate Is

Vanity: Man is Like To

Vanity: Man is Similar To

Vanity: Man, at his Best Estate, Is

Vanity: Man's own Righteousness Is

Vanity: Mere External Religion Is

Vanity: Pray to be Kept From

Vanity: Riches Gotten by Falsehood Are

Vanity: Saints Hate the Thoughts of

Vanity: Saints: Avoid

Vanity: Saints: Avoid Those Given To

Vanity: Saints: Hate the Thoughts of

Vanity: Saints: Pray to be Kept From

Vanity: The Beauty of Man Is

Vanity: The Conduct of the Ungodly Is

Vanity: The Days of Man Are

Vanity: The Help of Man In

Vanity: The Help of Man Is

Vanity: The Religion of Hypocrites Is

Vanity: The Thoughts of Man Are

Vanity: The Wicked: Allure Others by Words of

Vanity: The Wicked: Count God's Service As

Vanity: The Wicked: Devise

Vanity: The Wicked: Especially Characterised By

Vanity: The Wicked: Imagine

Vanity: The Wicked: Inherit

Vanity: The Wicked: Judicially Given up To

Vanity: The Wicked: Love

Vanity: The Wicked: Reap

Vanity: The Wicked: Speak

Vanity: The Wicked: Though Full of, Affect to be Wise

Vanity: The Wicked: Walk After

Vanity: The Wicked: Walk In

Vanity: The Worship of the Wicked Is

Vanity: They Who Trust In, Rewarded With

Vanity: Treasures of Wickedness Are

Vanity: Unblessed Riches Are

Vanity: Wealth Gotten By, Diminishes

Vanity: Worldly Anxiety

Vanity: Worldly Enjoyment Is

Vanity: Worldly Labor Is

Vanity: Worldly Labour Is

Vanity: Worldly Pleasure Is

Vanity: Worldly Possessions Are

Vanity: Worldly Wisdom Is

Vanity: Worldy Anxiety Is

Related Terms

Vanities (14 Occurrences)

Chasing (12 Occurrences)

Vexation (36 Occurrences)

Koheleth (7 Occurrences)

Futility (19 Occurrences)

Labored (35 Occurrences)

Striving (33 Occurrences)

Ecclesiastes (1 Occurrence)

Vainglory (2 Occurrences)

Divinations (10 Occurrences)

Pursuit (35 Occurrences)

Laboured (34 Occurrences)

Labouring (18 Occurrences)

Delusion (12 Occurrences)

Cord (47 Occurrences)

Aven (10 Occurrences)

Happens (32 Occurrences)

Altogether (56 Occurrences)

Happeneth (7 Occurrences)

Travail (54 Occurrences)

Nought (104 Occurrences)

Advantage (44 Occurrences)

Worthless (103 Occurrences)

Labour (119 Occurrences)

Recompense (79 Occurrences)

Occupation (9 Occurrences)

Laborest (1 Occurrence)

Labourest (1 Occurrence)

Lovest (13 Occurrences)

Wickedness (232 Occurrences)

Fleeting (9 Occurrences)

Trusting (45 Occurrences)

Takest (17 Occurrences)

Recompence (28 Occurrences)

Errors (15 Occurrences)

Emptiness (17 Occurrences)

Exhaust (2 Occurrences)

Deception (24 Occurrences)

Mockery (12 Occurrences)

Falsehood (107 Occurrences)

Inspection (23 Occurrences)

Fuel (13 Occurrences)

Grievous (73 Occurrences)

Joyfully (37 Occurrences)

Visitation (17 Occurrences)

Vain (141 Occurrences)

Enjoy (68 Occurrences)

Objects (30 Occurrences)

Deceived (55 Occurrences)

Preacher (27 Occurrences)

Gathereth (65 Occurrences)

Visions (43 Occurrences)

Gathering (71 Occurrences)

Considered (80 Occurrences)

Sad (73 Occurrences)

Toil (66 Occurrences)

Satisfied (110 Occurrences)

Fool (95 Occurrences)

Weary (77 Occurrences)

Highborn (1 Occurrence)

Quicken (16 Occurrences)

Vaunt (5 Occurrences)

Vanish (21 Occurrences)

Vainglorious (1 Occurrence)

Vanquish (1 Occurrence)

Nothing (769 Occurrences)

Untempered (5 Occurrences)

Justly (22 Occurrences)

Lothe (5 Occurrences)

Laboring (8 Occurrences)

Laughter (14 Occurrences)

Leveled (4 Occurrences)

Lacks (27 Occurrences)

Levity (2 Occurrences)

Lasciviousnesses (3 Occurrences)

Lacketh (17 Occurrences)

Life-time (12 Occurrences)

Vanity: Avoid Those Given To
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