29 Bible Verses about Futility

Yet you do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls and its beauty is destroyed. So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."

for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds, they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to the hardness of their heart;

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.

For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will fail;

If with Christ you died to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you still belonged to it, do you submit to regulations such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (referring to things which are all destined perish with use), according to human commandments and teachings?read more.
These indeed have an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

'These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'"

And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites; as it is written: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'

But I, brethren, could not address you as spiritual men, but as carnal men, as infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food; for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, even now you are not ready, for you are still carnal. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not carnal, and are you not walking like mere men?

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and quarrels about the Law, for they are unprofitable and useless.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Let no one disqualify you for the prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, puffed up without cause by his fleshly mind,

For some men have wandered away from these things and turned aside to fruitless discussion,

Remind them of these things, and charge them in the presence of God to avoid disputing about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.

For speaking out arrogant words of vanity, they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing.

Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it survives, he will receive a reward.read more.
If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

For we also have had the good news preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.

And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell. And great was its fall."

when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. But he who received the seed on rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. And when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.read more.
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for he looks at himself and goes away, and immediately forgets what he was like.

But are you willing to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is useless?

Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead expose them.

You know that you were redeemed from the futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

If anyone cleanses himself from what is ignoble, he will be a vessel for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.