Instead of making our day a vanity, let modesty be our focus. Many have viewed Ecclesiastes as a negative and cynical book. Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!' the writer proclaims. Vanity (hebe/ in Hebrew) means smoke, vapor, or mist. He means that all the things that people chase after - fame, money, power, etc. - are really illusions and have as much substance as mist or smoke. Hence, such an outlook demands that we be modest in everything, pleasant and painful. Extravagance is vanity. It is better to focus on one's day-to-day little joys in life as unavoidable happiness.

Colossians has a similar message: we should focus on the things that are above rather than the things of earth. The things of the earth include unhelpful attitudes and practices. We must strip off the old self and become the new - the heavenly - person.

So, when Jesus illustrated how the rich fool in the parable thinks he has it made, the simple lesson is to stay focused on God the Provider. However, the rich man revels in his wealth, spending all his time and energy on amassing more. He makes grand plans for the future, an amplified vanity. But God has other plans - that night his life will come to an end. We have so little time on earth, so let us focus on what is truly important and eternal. Modesty, kindness, mercy, and generosity are great starters!