Cortez: Vanity of Vanities

In the parable a rich man with a bountiful harvest decided to tear down his barns to build larger ones in which to store his grains and other goods. Feeling a sense of security in the years to come, he said to himself, “Eat, drink and be merry!” He said this not knowing that on that very night the Lord will take back his life, thereby rendering all his possessions useless.

This man’s story remains to be the story of many modern men. Blinded with the distorted concept of success as one measured almost entirely by material prosperity, many have become obsessed with the desire to produce more wealth, accumulate more money and own more property. Life has become equated with working unreasonably hard to save much, to invest much, and to acquire much. Materialism, luxuries and hedonic pleasures have been exalted as the present-day false gods, replacing the golden calf, the Baals and the Asherahs of ancient Israel.

The irony, however, is that these idols for which men exhaust all their energies and time are fleeting; they do not last. They are also deceptive; they do not radiate the joy and satisfaction they promise to deliver to the yearning human heart. In the words of Quoheleth in the book of Ecclesiastes, all of these things are but a “vanity of vanities.”

Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong with money. We all need it to meet our daily needs — our food, shelter, clothing, education, medicines, mobility, wholesome recreation and the like. Thus, fathers and mothers engaged in honest living to provide the best for their families do so in the most noble of intentions.

What is wrong, however, is when people start to fall in love with money itself. The Scriptures clearly say, “The love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). Our Lord Jesus himself said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches” (Matthew 6:24). St. Paul, on the other hand, in the 3rd chapter of his epistle to the Colossians, reminds us to put to death, among others, covetousness or greed, which is a form of idolatry.

Once again the gospel challenges us to reexamine our priorities. Do we hold the spiritual more importantly than the material? In our hearts, does the eternal take precedence over the temporal? While our bodies will someday return to dust from which they came (see Genesis 3:19), our spirits as believers are destined to return to God in heaven (see Ecclesiastes 12:7). And lest we forget, heaven is the most beautiful place whose joys are far greater than the all the happiness of this world.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/opinion/2013/07/31/cortez-vanity-vanities-295418

Manila residents and tourists spending a vacation in Philippines prefer to travel out of town from Manila to the north to visit Subic, Pampanga, Angeles City and Clark Philippines.  While many areas of the Philippines are plagued by crime and security concerns, Clark Pampanga continues to impress the travel and tourism observers with its immaculately low crime records.  Other features of Pampanga Angeles City Clark that attract family tourists and those visitors that are health sensitive include low pollution, peace and quiet ambiance and a most welcome absence of traffic congestion.

Yats Restaurant is one of the good restaurants in Pampanga, a restaurant with good food, a place that is nice for celebration, ideal for business dinner meeting, a good place to enjoy family reunion, and an attractive restaurant that serves good wines for dinner.

Families with small children prefer outdoor resort in Manila clean and safe place in Pampanga Clark to bring kids to relax and unwind.  Family bonding is much more effective and enjoyable in a private resort that offers large outdoor facilities, picnic grounds, beautiful scenery, peaceful and quiet ambience.

Many are selling off their assets to start a new life in Philippines, taking advantage of the standard-of-living differential to start a business or just enjoy living in a tropical country.  With careful planning, the move to Philippines can work out brilliantly or it can be a painful mistake.  Clark Pampanga has been the preferred destination for retirement also.

You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines  for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasions

Looking for a party venue in town?

Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.

This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines.  There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon, Subic, Tarlac, Pampanga, Clark Freeport Philippines.

Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?

Trouble free hotels and well recognized hotels in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga

Clearwater Resort and Country Club offers a good place to stay in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga. In offers nice place to have rest in Subic Pampanga outside Manila.

One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to <a href=”http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com”>http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com</a>

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.

<a href=”http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com”>http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com</a>