Where in the Bible Does It Say God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

The Rev. James Huber

Today, I will attempt to address something that many people have said over the years (and I grew up hearing it as well). Together, we are going to try to address the phrase:

"God helps those who help themselves."

I read in an online blog that this phrase is "the most frequently quoted bible verse that is not found in the Bible." Indeed, many people grew up thinking it is in the pages of scripture. Others attribute it to Ben Franklin, who quoted it from Poor Richard's Almanac in 1757. However, my best information suggests it comes from a man named Algernon Sydney, who used it in a rather obscure article he wrote in 1698.

Whatever the original human source of this saying, we should first realize that holy scripture says that God helps the helpless! Consider:

Isaiah 25:4, which declares, "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall."

Romans 5:6, which tells us, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

And Isaiah 64:6 reminds us:

"… all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…"

In terms of salvation, we are all helpless of our own merit because we all have a sin nature.

Thankfully, in his love and his mercy, God is the helper of the helpless. Romans 5:8 says: "While we were yet still sinners, Christ died for us."

When it comes to the saying "God helps those who help themselves," we should recognize our own inconsistency. Sometimes, we ask God for help, but then we become passive and we expect God to do everything. We excuse this by pointing to the fact that God will provide according to his will and in his timing. This is true, however … it is also true that this is not a reason for our inactivity. If you are in need of a job, ask God to help you find a job. Then, be active in actually looking for a job. Don't confuse "trusting God" with "being a faithful steward of what he was given us." The two go hand in hand.

The real problem with this idea of "God helps those who help themselves" is that we become our first source of help and strength and, God becomes second. While we have a level of responsibility, God is the one who moves in the hearts of men and women, and he is the one who can move mountains in our lives.

I would suggest to us that the reality isn't that God helps those who help themselves — but God helps those who realize they can't help themselves. Yes, we should have initiative in this life, but we also need to remember that he is the one who is over all things.

But my biggest concern with the old saying "God helps those who help themselves" is that it has the potential to be misused, and will cause people to miscalculate because they may be trusting in a combination of things for their salvation, instead of the only one (Jesus Christ) who can actually provide it. We need to remember this distinction between the "Creator" and the "created." In other words, he's God and we're not.

Trust him, seek him, and know that he loves you and sent his only begotten son to make salvation available to all who will come to believe.

The Rev. James Huber serves as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Gaylord. Readers may contact him through email at cbcgaylord@gmail.com. The church's phone number is (989) 732-4001; website is cbcgaylord.com; and Facebook page is Calvary Baptist Gaylord.

Where in the Bible Does It Say God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

Source: https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/opinion/2021/05/25/james-huber-does-god-help-those-who-help-themselves/5190853001/#:~:text=Thankfully%2C%20in%20his%20love%20and,should%20recognize%20our%20own%20inconsistency.

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