The Lie of “God Helps Those Who Help Themselves”

An Old Saying

There is an old saying that has floated around for ages. Have you heard it? Have you quoted it like you were quoting the Bible? It goes like this…

“God helps those who help themselves.”

Oh, I understand the thinking behind this statement. We have always had too many people who would rather ask for handouts than work for anything. As a matter of fact, the Bible has a few things to say about those who refuse to work…

People who refuse to work are:

Brothers to those who destroy (Proverbs 18:9)
Big dreamers, but don’t do anything (Proverbs 13:4)
Worse than unbelievers, or “infidels” (1 Timothy 5:8)

However, it is terribly UNBIBLICAL to suggest that “God only helps those who help themselves.” Ask yourself the following questions…

When Isaac was on the altar, who provided a sacrifice?
When the children of Israel were pinned between a blood-thirsty Egyptian army and the Red Sea, were they told to go ahead and try to swim first?
Before Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace, were they expected to use some diplomacy and bow down just a little?
Before the aforementioned Jewish boys were thrown into the fiery furnace, were they expected to spit into the flames?
When Daniel was thrown into the den of lions, should he have smacked the lions around before God closed their mouths?
Did Jesus ask the crippled man to crawl a little first?
Did Jesus ask the blind man to go get an eye exam after trying a little saline solution?
Did Jesus ask for a plan from the hungry 5,000? Did He ask for an offering?
Did God ask Paul and Silas to first yank on their prison chains, then kick a little on the gates?
Did Jesus expect the demon-possessed man to watch his mouth, clean himself up, and get his act together?
Should Lazarus have made some effort on his part before Jesus raised him from the dead?

No, I didn’t think so!

The Truth Is..

When the chains are unbreakable…When the disease is irreversible…When the money is unobtainable…When the marriage is unsavable…When the enemy is unstoppable…

When all hope is lost…

God helps those who CAN’T help themselves!

Help me, O LORD my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy, That they may know that this [is] Your hand–[That] You, LORD, have done it! – Psalm 109:26-27 NKJV

In a fire? Lions ready to pounce? Bound by chains? Hungry and without hope? There is Help!