The Man and the Wooden God

Story Summary
In this timeless moral story, a man frustrated by his persistent bad luck repeatedly prays to a wooden idol inherited from his father, but his pleas go unanswered. In a fit of rage, he destroys the idol, only to discover it hid a vast amount of coins inside, revealing that his luck was intricately tied to the very object he sought help from. This tale serves as a wisdom-packed reminder that sometimes, our fortunes are hidden in the places we least expect.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
The true source of luck and fortune often lies within ourselves, rather than in external idols or objects.
Historical Context
This story reflects themes found in various mythologies and folk tales, where idols and objects of worship often symbolize false beliefs and the futility of placing faith in material representations. The narrative echoes elements from fables and parables across cultures, including the biblical story of the Golden Calf and Aesop's fables, which underscore the importance of true faith and inner strength over reliance on external idols. Such tales often serve as moral lessons about self-discovery and the rejection of superstitions, urging individuals to seek empowerment within themselves rather than in inanimate objects.
Our Editors Opinion
This story highlights the idea that sometimes we place our faith in external symbols or superstitions rather than taking action ourselves. In modern life, this can be seen in people who rely excessively on luck or fate rather than working hard and making proactive choices to shape their own destinies. For instance, a person might keep buying lottery tickets hoping for a big win instead of investing time in developing skills and pursuing job opportunities that could lead to financial stability.
You May Also Like

The Man and his Goose
In this captivating moral story, a man who owned a goose that laid golden eggs became consumed by greed, believing the goose contained a hidden treasure inside. In his haste for wealth, he killed the goose, only to discover she was an ordinary bird and the eggs were no different from regular ones. This entertaining moral tale serves as a valuable lesson for personal growth, illustrating the consequences of impatience and greed in childhood stories with moral lessons.

An AErophobe
In "An AErophobe," a celebrated religious figure addresses the fallibility of the Bible, asserting that his role is to clarify its teachings to prevent misguidance, which serves as a meaningful story with moral lessons for kids. When questioned about his own infallibility, he cleverly sidesteps a direct answer by stating that he is not "pneumophagous," highlighting the distinction between human limitations and spiritual understanding. This short story encourages readers to reflect on the importance of interpretation in moral stories, making it a valuable addition to short stories to learn morals.

The Policeman and the Citizen
In "The Policeman and the Citizen," a misguided policeman, mistaking a man in a fit for a drunkard, attacks him and then turns his aggression on a questioning citizen. This encounter leads the policeman to realize that targeting the sober is easier, allowing him to rise to the rank of Chief while sobriety vanishes from his jurisdiction. This engaging moral tale imparts lessons from moral stories about the dangers of misjudgment and the corruption of power, fitting seamlessly into collections of life-changing stories with moral wisdom.
Other names for this story
Wooden Idol's Secret, The Luckless Worshipper, The Broken God, Coins of the Idol, The Idol's Hidden Treasure, From Rage to Riches, Unluckiest Man's Revelation, The Wooden God Unveiled
Did You Know?
This story illustrates the theme of self-discovery and the idea that true fortune often lies within one's own actions rather than external symbols of luck, highlighting how breaking free from blind faith can lead to unexpected rewards.
Subscribe to Daily Stories
Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.
Explore More Stories
Story Details
- Age Group
- adultkidschildrenstory for class 2story for class 3story for class 4story for class 5story for class 6story for class 7story for class 8
- Theme
- faithdiscoverythe futility of reliance on false idols
- Characters
- ManWooden Godcoins
- Setting
- the man's homethe place of worshipthe location of the wooden idol