The only fact that Lucifer himself fell because of vanity speaks of the exceptional danger of this sin.
The main reason for vanity is selfishness and overinflated self-esteem. If a person pays attention not to his main human qualities - purity and strength of his soul, but to the secondary - earthly virtues, then the presence of vanity is almost inevitable. Darkness will surely take advantage of it. Temptation can be great wealth, high intelligence, good social status, excellent education, good looks, professionalism, etc. That is the possession of superior personal qualities and capabilities compared to other people. Often a person, having nothing to show for when it comes to his soul, is conceited to the point of ridiculous.
This demon of vanity blinds the person, causing him to lose sight of his shortcomings. He then displays resentment and aggression toward any constructive criticism. At the same time, his keen vigilance in detecting other people's flaws is absolutely astonishing. The phrase by Jesus Christ: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matthew, chapter 7) precisely refers to this negative quality.
Criticism is a painful blow to one's ego. And the undefeated demon of arrogance causes one's consciousness to revolt! In this case, it is crucial to understand what exactly comprises criticism. Perhaps it reveals the truth about an existing flaw. Then, if the soul is of value to the person, even while being tormented by shame and resentment, he will accept criticism in humility as a sign to correct the deficiency.
If the fight against sins is only a proclamation, then vanity will inevitably speed up the process of sliding into the abyss, that is, to a tragic finale.
Vain people create friction wherever they go. They become irritated and look for a reason to hurt anyone questioning their supremacy. Typically, they do not openly express it but in a disguised fashion, under some seemingly plausible pretense.
Conceited people absolutely detest if anyone other than them receives more attention. They cannot tolerate if someone equal to them appears in the vicinity or, which is completely unbearable, if that someone is superior to them. At the same time, loyal companions of vanity readily emerge - envy or jealousy, if not both simultaneously.
If vanity is substantial, the person makes a poor impression on others; he may start scheming, slandering, making prickly remarks, etc.
However, one can defeat vanity. To do this, you will need the following:
1. Real faith;
2. The goal is the liberation of the soul from sins. It should be the primary goal, prevailing over other earthly ones;
3. The presence of a will, patience, and conscious humility (see the article "Resentment");
4. It is advisable to have regular consulting with and support from people who managed to overcome this emotion. Such a process is not fast.
Remember the quote from the Bible: "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Matthew 23:12).
In my case, the battle with many negative emotions simultaneously gradually replaced darkness within me with light. And this light grew stronger each year, steadily pushing out sins, including vanity. The soul, being freed from sins, made me more perceptive of my shortcomings, which facilitated the battle with them.
I noticed that even the tone of our voice reveals our vices. Example: I remember a situation when an 8-year-old boy was visiting me with his mother. He was trying to argue with me regarding some moral issue in which he was fundamentally wrong. And I, in a mentoring tone of voice, was trying to convince him of his misconception. When they left, I had an unpleasant aftertaste from the conversation. After analyzing what just had happened, I found the reason - there was a note of conceit of a connoisseur in my voice. I felt embarrassed.
Remind yourself more often that no matter what knowledge, physical appearance, or talents you possess, there will always be someone superior to you. And remember, if you have already embarked on the path of faith and rectification, your guide will always be the extraordinary figure of the Son of God. He rejected all attempts to glorify Him, to make a cult out of Him. Instead, He said - praise the Lord.
Remember! Everything we have - life, the beauty of nature, talents, joy, love - all of it is from God! Do not let laziness and selfishness bury your immortal soul in darkness.
March 2023
Yuri Lutsenko
