Daily Devotional – Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he, by his wisdom, delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.
Ecclesiastes 9:15 (NKJV)
Tucked inside Ecclesiastes is a two-sentence story that one can easily miss. The story ends in an anticlimax. A foreign king besieges a city, but a poor wise man saves it. Once the danger is over, the city forgets the man. Life moves on as if nothing happened. Regrettably, life frequently unfolds in this manner.
The Unsung Hero
This story is significant because Solomon uses it to lead us to the lesson in verse 16: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.” To truly grasp the essence of this story, we must closely examine its overlooked hero.
Imagine saving a whole city from destruction, only for the people you rescued to forget about you. The king cannot save his people. The army watches helplessly as the enemy threatens. The rich cannot rely on their resources to fight the enemy. All the wise people are short of ideas, but you, a poor wise man, are the saviour.
What If Nobody Remembers What You Did?
Does the story inspire or demotivate? What if nobody remembers the good that we did? When others overlook our noble and sacrificial deeds, we can easily become resentful and regret having assisted them. Solomon, however, subtly celebrates the hero’s wisdom while exposing the sad irony of people’s ingratitude to those who help them.
Have you ever felt like the poor wise man in Ecclesiastes? Do you find yourself regretting helping people who never appreciated your effort? Take heart. We can learn from Jesus, who gave His life even for those who mocked Him and put Him to death. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men…” (Colossians 3:23-24).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, there are moments when people forget how I came through for them in the past. When that happens, remind me to continue serving diligently and selflessly because that is Your will for me.
