Global Missions Conference
Daily Devotional
Day 7
“There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. So I said, ‘Wisdom is better than strength.’ But the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are no longer heeded.” Ecclesiastes 9:14–16
Read: Ecclesiastes 9:1–18
Small cities are frequently overshadowed by larger ones. Most people in the US are familiar with Tokyo in Japan. It is the largest global city today with a population of 37 million people. However, few people in the US are familiar with the city of Fukuoka, a city of 1.5 million, located on the island of Kyushu in the south of Japan.
Ecclesiastes deliberately showcases a small city with only a few people in it. Presumably this was in stark contrast to Jerusalem with its reservoirs, water groves, gardens, parks, and great houses (Ecclesiastes 2). And, most likely, people would assume this small city was easy pickings for powerful rulers nearby. There’s a double surprise in this vignette. The first is the poor but wise man whose wisdom saved that small city. The second is the folly of the people who soon despised that poor man’s wisdom. Wisdom may defeat unimaginable foes but is frequently unacknowledged or unappreciated.
Fukuoka may play second fiddle or even third or fourth to Tokyo, but that doesn’t mean it’s less valuable. Several years ago, Newsweek magazine dubbed it one of the top ten dynamic cities in the world. Today, we know that Fukuoka plays a significant role in business relationships across Asia. We also know that the gospel is being preaching in Fukuoka. Adrian and Rebecca Tam from Park Street Church are laboring for the gospel with their Japanese colleagues in this city. This is a wisdom the world rejects. The Apostle Paul wrote, “…Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1 Cor. 1:20-21). The seeds of the gospel that are preached in Fukuoka today can bear fruit across Asia and perhaps beyond.
Question
Are there cities you look down on or look up to, perhaps because of their history, business, culture, or technology? What about people? Are there those that you discount or despise because you count yourself better?
Action Step
Train yourself not to interrupt people when you are in conversation, particularly with those who are quite different from yourself. Consider how you might show them respect.
Prayer
Father, thank you that you have your servants in small cities and big cities around the world. I ask you to send your Holy Spirit to those who are wise in regard to the gospel but ignored or forgotten by others. May they shine like stars in a dark night. May their wisdom lead many in cities like Fukuoka to come to the light of Christ. Amen.