Vanity—also known as vainglory—is a sin rooted in pride. The word vain means empty or useless, while glory refers to honor or worth. So, vanity is the act of ascribing to ourselves a sense of honor or value that is, in reality, empty and meaningless. It is, as Rebecca Konyndyk De Young puts it, “the excessive and disordered desire for recognition and approval from others.”
Through vanity, we crave others’ approval, acknowledgment of our accomplishments, and praise for ourselves—praise that springs from pride within the heart. At its core, vanity is like shouting (though never openly saying), “Hey! Have you noticed how great I am?”
Thankfully, God has provided a divine remedy for vanity: humility. Humility flows from a proper love for God and neighbor. It leads us to live, think, and act with genuine, charitable affection toward others. This sermon will help us understand how humility moves us to love others more—and ourselves less.