15 Bible Verses about Futility Of Worldly Pursuits

For we brought nothing into the world,
and we can take nothing out.

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile.

When there is a man whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong.

saying:

Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will leave this life.
The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.
Praise the name of Yahweh.

For when he dies, he will take nothing at all;
his wealth will not follow him down.

Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good reserve for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real.

For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? What can a man give in exchange for his life?

What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself?

Don’t you know that ever since antiquity,
from the time man was placed on earth,
the joy of the wicked has been brief
and the happiness of the godless has lasted only a moment?

With Your hand, Lord, save me from men,
from men of the world
whose portion is in this life:
You fill their bellies with what You have in store;
their sons are satisfied,
and they leave their surplus to their children.

“‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’

“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.”

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness;