29 Bible Verses about Futility

how do you know, what will happen to-morrow? for, "what is your life?" a vapour that just appears, and then vanishes.

the sun is up and darts its rays, the grass is wither'd, its flowers droop, and all their beautiful appearance vanishes away. just so the rich man fades with all his projects.

for the wisdom of this world is folly, in the eye of God: as it is written, "he surprizes the wise in all their artifices." and again, "the Lord knows, that the thoughts of the wise are vain."

because when they knew God, they did not with gratitude glorify him as God, but their reasoning became extravagance, and their minds, void of judgment, were involv'd in darkness.

This I say therefore, and conjure you by the Lord not to live for the future as other Gentiles do, in the vanity of their minds, which are overspread with darkness, and averse to a religious life, thro' their innate ignorance and obduracy:

he hath displayed the strength of his arm, and has confounded the proud by the devices of their hearts. he has cast down princes from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree,

for some time ago one Theudas started up, pretending to be something extraordinary, who was join'd indeed by about four hundred men: but he was no sooner put to death, than his followers all dispers'd, and were reduc'd to nothing. after this man, Judas of Galilee appear'd, at the time of the registry, and seduc'd many people: he also perished, and all his followers were dispersed. my opinion therefore is, not to meddle with these men, but to let them go on: for if the design be a human project, it will fall of it self. but if it be from God,

If then you are dead with Christ, in respect of those shadows of the Jewish state; why do ye, as if you were still in that state, submit to those ordinances? "don't eat this, don't taste that, nor touch it:" which yet were all made to be consumed for our use, notwithstanding the injunctions and doctrines of men:read more.
by which indeed they make a pretence to wisdom, by a worship of their own devising, by an air of humility, and self-denial, and a disregard to the gratifications of sense.

"this people, says he, draw nigh to me, they honour me with their lips: while their hearts are far from me. but in vain they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men."

Jesus answered, to such hypocrites as you may well be applied those words of the prophet Esaias, "this people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men."

However, I could not speak to you, my brethren, as to the spiritual, or as to the dispassionate, but as to novices in christianity. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, nor have you yet sufficient strength. for you are still subject to your passions. since envy, and strife, and divisions are among you, are you not actuated by the vices of the animal part?

If a person of an ungovernable tongue pretends to religion, he abuses himself: for his religion is meer illusion.

but avoid frivolous enquiries about genealogies, and vexatious disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

let no man mislead you by vain reasonings: for it is for these vices, that the wrath of God lights upon the incredulous.

Let no man condemn you, from an affectation of humility, in worshipping of Angels, boldly prying into matters which he knows nothing of, being vainly puft up with his Jewish conceits:

for want of which, some have lost themselves in frivolous disputes,

These things represent, conjuring them by the presence of the Lord, to avoid disputes about words, which only serve to pervert the audience.

when their language swells with vanity, by applying to the sensual passions of the licentious, they allure those who were escap'd for a while, from such deceivers:

I am the vine, you are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for independent of me ye can do nothing.

now if upon this foundation somebody builds gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble: he that builds such work, will be expos'd. for the time of tryal will show it: it shall be discovered by the fire, which will put each sort of work to the test. if the work abide which somebody has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.read more.
if that man's work should be burnt, he will suffer loss: but should he himself escape, it will be as out of the fire.

for to us was the good promise made, as well as to them: but the word address'd to them was not effectually receiv'd with faith by those that heard it.

but every one that heareth these instructions of mine, and practiseth them not, shall be compared to a fool who built his house upon the sand: the rain descends, the flood rushes on, the winds blow, and beat upon the house: down it falls, and wide are its ruins.

when any one heareth the doctrine of the gospel, and considers it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away what was sown in his heart: he is the person meant by the high-way, where some of the seed was sown: but the stony ground, where other seed fell, denotes the man that heareth the word, and at first receives it with pleasure: but having no root in him he has only an occasional faith: for as soon as any oppression or persecution arises upon account of the gospel, he presently relapses.read more.
he that is meant by the thorny ground, where other seed fell, is one that heareth the word: which by cares of this life, and the deceitful love of riches, is soon stifled, and becomes unfruitful:

Don't delusively content your selves with being of the audience, but put what you hear in practice: for a bare auditor without practice is like one who sees his image form'd by a mirror: he takes a view, turns away, and instantly loses his appearance.

Vain man, must I show you how lifeless a thing faith is, without its effects?

and be not accomplices in the fruitless practices of vice; on the contrary, condemn them.

considering, that it was not by such perishable things as silver or gold, that you were releas'd from those vain rites and customs impos'd upon you by your fathers,

he that is clear of vice, is a vessel of the first kind, sanctified and fit for the master's use, and qualified for every virtuous action.