“There was a little city and few men within it—and there came a great king against it and besieged it and built great bulwarks against it. Now, there was found in it a poor wise man and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet, no man remembered that same poor man. Then, said I, ‘Wisdom is better than strength; nevertheless, the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard’.”
Ecclesiastes 9:14-16
Never forget that our all-seeing God knows what we do and why we do it—and even if those around us never notice or acknowledge the good that we do, He does and will reward us accordingly (I Cor. 3:12-15).
How are you doing today, Pilgrim? Are you happy? Are things going well? Or, have you been having a rough time and struggling to keep your head above water? Have you been feeling like “more than a conqueror through Christ” (Rom. 8:37)? Or, have you been feeling like David (“no man cares for my soul”—Ps. 142:4) and Elijah (“I’m the only one left and would be better off dead”—I Kings 19:1-2, 4, 10, 14)?
Someone once said “To the victor be the spoils;” yet, you keep wondering “when your ship’s going to come in” and why everything you touch ends up spoiled.
But, do not lose hope, weary one. The Master knows—and “in your weakness His Strength is made complete” (II Cor. 12:9-10).
We know not what city Solomon’s referring to in today’s Manna, but evidently he was privy to the ins-and-outs of how a little city was able to overcome a great king and his siege against them. And, how did they do it?
“Through the wisdom of a poor man. A nobody. A poorly educated, lowly-esteemed nobody.”
Never forget that some of the greatest feats in life have been accomplished by some of the most obscure people. They’ve never been voted “Most Likely to Succeed” or made the “Top Ten List” of anything. Instead, they’ve seemingly always been overlooked. . .taken for granted…pushed aside. . .ignored, etc.
Yet, they still did their duty. And, did it well.
Without any fame or fortune. With little approval, accolades or applause.
But, the little that they did—like this poor, wise man in this unnamed city—made all the difference in the world.
And, what’s equally sad is the fact that after helping deliver the city from what seemed insurmountable odds, “no man remembered that same poor man.” He was soon forgotten. His “wisdom despised.” No parades. No fanfare. No buildings with his name on them. Living in the same little shack. Doing the same minimum wage job.
But, not to God. And, dear Pilgrim, the same is true today. Even Christ Himself “made of Himself no reputation, but took upon Himself the form of a slave” (Phil. 2:7). Like the poor, wise man, He didn’t upbraid them (or us); instead, He prayed “Father, forgive them” (Lk. 23:34). May He give us the Grace today to do the same—all for His Glory and others’ good.
July 24, 2011
