Does God Help Those Who Help Themselves?
God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
It is a frequent statement I have heard throughout my life. God helps those who help themselves. It is usually said after telling someone that they need to do something in order for God to help or giving someone a reason as to why they have been unsuccessful at something.
Actually, this idea of doing something first in order for God to help you is something I also hear some modern day televangelists promoting as well.
Where did this saying come from? Did God himself say it? Or does it come from a summary of a story in the Bible?
It might shock you to know that this saying is one that is not in the Bible and is a saying that is falsely attributed to God. It is so widely used that many people believe it wholeheartedly and view these words as Gospel truth. By believing this 'truth' people then miss the fact that God, in fact, helps those who cannot help themselves.
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8 K.J.V.
A whale that was beached and subsequently died.
In the Bible, mankind is often compared to sheep. Sheep are animals who need a shepherd. They cannot protect themselves from the wolf, they cannot get themselves out of a ditch if they fall in, in short, they need someone to watch over them day and night.
When a sheep falls into a ditch or gets stuck on a precipice it has no ability to climb up and out of the situation. It realizes this and begins to cry, hoping that the shepherd will hear and rescue it. A good shepherd is always nearby and will find the sheep or will search for the sheep until he has found it (as Jesus Himself said).
When we have our backs against the wall and realize that we can do nothing, then crying out to God is all that we can do.It is actually the easiest thing to do.It should be the first thing that we do.The second thing we should do is wait for Him to come with hope and faith in our hearts.
To the world this statement may sound foolish.
'Look at all that mankind has achieved', many may say. 'We have made machines that fly, we have created technology that those before us would not dream of, we have built bridges in communication that were not possible.' Yes, I agree,we have done all of that but only through the grace and mercy of God. Without that nothing could be accomplished.
For something to be invented, there must be an idea. For an idea to be formulated, there must be a sound mind. For the sound mind to formulate the idea, it must be active. For the mind to be active, it must be alive.
Who gives us life?
Who gives us another day?
Everyday that we open our eyes from sleep is a day that God has given us.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." John 6:47 K.J.V.
We Can't Get To Heaven By Ourselves
It is the general ambition of mankind to make the Earth (and perhaps other planets) a place equal to heaven. You can ask people from differing religious backgrounds, you can ask those who have no religious beliefs, they will tell you that it would be wonderful if poverty was eradicated, if we could find a way to all live in peace, if we could find a way to stop natural disasters, if we could conquer the great diseases or even find a cure for the common cold.
Mankind is constantly finding ways to improve the quality of life for everyone so that the world will be content. This has always been the case. Mankind would like to create a type of utopia in his way and be successful without God.
This is impossible.
Every time we try we fail. We failed at first when we tried it with the tower of Babel and since then, we have continued to try with absolute failure.
However, a place where there is no sorrow and no tears, a place where man can dwell in peace and safety already exists. Mankind just cannot get there by himself. He has to trust and depend on another.
For many this is about the most difficult thing to do.
We hope in our own victory when the victory has already been won. We want to be the heroes instead of walking with the One who is the true hero. We want to take glory away from God and have it for ourselves.
'Look at what I did! I am so proud of myself. Others are proud of me.' Vain glory that profits us nothing. Mankind not even realizing that each breath we take is given to us by God Almighty.
We do nothing by ourselves.
When we realize that and ask God to take complete control then the problems in life, although still difficult, will be easier to bear because we will know that the Good Shepherd is with us and will bring us out of it.
Yes, He will even bring us out of death.The heaven that we seek will be waiting for us fully prepared and we will not have needed to lift one finger to build it.
© 2017 North Wind
