"Lying vanities."

Jonah 2:8 KJV

[8] They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

Lying vanities are everywhere. Instead of ignoring them, people spend mind, time and resources on them.

Lying vanities are worthless things that seem to be valuable.

Example, too much food.

We saw a man in prison get a bacon cheeseburger. He had not had one in years. He enjoyed that burger immensely. But if he had to eat ten more right away, his enjoyment would be greatly reduced. His enjoyment would turn into distaste. More might seem to be more valuable, but it is actually worse.

Another example, money. Similar to food.

People get money and they buy things. A certain amount of money has great value. Yet they believe that even more money will give them much more value. That is a lying vanity. I know people who have spent millions and millions of dollars buying things to give them pleasure. But they never used what they bought. They even forgot they had these things. That large amount of money gave them less pleasure, because they experienced everything, so to speak, and got tired of everything.

Proverbs 30:7-9 KJV

[7] Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

[8] Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

[9] Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

People get really upset about things they forget about two hours later, such as the news. Lying vanities.

Most people’s whole lives are wasted on trivial things. Things they do not really care that much about. Instead of spending themselves on eternal things, such as obeying God.

By doing this, they forsake their own mercy. What amazing things would God do for them, for their benefit, if they would forsake their lying vanities.