Ecclesiastes 9:15
"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."
The story in the verse above is about a little city that was besieged by a mighty king. This little city had very few men in the city to defend it, but one thing this city had was a wise man who didn't have much money. This city found itself in a terrible predicament because the king had built a wall around the outside of the city to keep anyone from coming in or going out. This king was trying to starve these people to death. Yet, this poor wise man devised a plan that delivered them from this tyrant king.
You would think that this poor wise man would be the hero of the city. You would think that a parade down Main Street would be conducted to honor this man. You would think that a day of vacation would be added to the calendar in this man's name to honor how he was used to deliver the city.
Though these things should have happened, we see the opposite happened. This poor man was quickly forgotten. No one ever came by to thank this poor wise man for what he had done for them. This poor wise man sat lonely in a house without any gratitude given by those whom he delivered.
This reminds me of Dr. Lee Roberson, the man whom God used to build the great Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Several years after Dr. Roberson retired from the pastorate, I was with some young men in the Chattanooga area and we wanted to go by and visit him and see the work he built. We didn't know if we would ever be able to get to see him, for he was the great Dr. Lee Roberson. To our dismay, we asked people around the building if they knew where Dr. Roberson was, and the only response we got was from a janitor who said, "You mean that old man who sits in an office across the street." Those people employed by that church would not have a job had it not been for Dr. Lee Roberson. Yet, they forgot him and never gave him the gratitude he deserved.
Sadly, this story is played out over and over again. There are elderly people everywhere who sit lonely in their living rooms or nursing homes without one person stopping by to thank them for the wisdom they instilled in the lives of individuals. There are pastors who retired from their pulpit that are criticized and minimized by the new pastor so that he can receive the credit for something he did not do. There are people all around us who maybe gave one piece of advice to salvage someone's life and they are never remembered or thanked for the influence they had on one's life.
Instead, the new kid on the block is who everyone wants to be around. My question to you is this, what has the new kid on the block done for you more than those who got you where you are right now? I'm not saying that you shouldn't be thankful for those presently influencing you, but don't forget those who have given their life to give you what you presently have. Don't let them sit thanklessly wondering if they wasted their years of service investing in you.
Let me challenge you today to remember those poor wise men in your life and thank them for their contributions to your life. It may be your parents, a former pastor, Sunday school teacher, bus worker or an older person who is all alone. Take the time to call them and thank them for their part in giving you what you have. Don't let their work and wisdom go unnoticed. Make it a part of your weekly schedule to find someone who influenced you and thank them for their contribution in your life.