There are people who want to the wisest human being, or to be a champion philantropist, or to be the best politician, or to be the greatest explorer, or to be god himself.
The Preacher in the Book of Ecclesiastes says "Vanities of vanities! All is vanity." What does he mean? Is vanities good or bad, noble or ignoble?
Unless we have a deranged mind, we all have objectives in the things we do. We want to achieve some meaningful things. We do not just hang around on the beach all day, catch some fish and birds for food and let the days and years go by.
Many of us will want to do something which we believe to be meaningful. Many of these things are just be fulfill our self-esteem/ego needs, our personal or self-actualization needs, boost our dignity in our own eyes and in the eyes of others. Like the desire to climb the highest mountain, it may or may not benefit others.
But all is vanity.
My own conclusion is that 'vanities' to satisfy one's own ego or to satisfy one's own purpose, even if a billion people's lives have been improved as a result, is still 'futile'. Only 'vanities' that are not to fulfill the personal ego needs and self-actualization needs, are noble.
The Preacher of the Book of Ecclesiastes has this conclusion: "The conclusion when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. Because God will bring every act to judgement, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." Eccl 12:14.
We better be close to God, then.
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