Text:I Timothy 5:1-8
Today I would like to start some messages concerning quotes that seem to be in the Bible but maybe they are not. There are a lot of things said and taken as truth but may not be in the Bible at all. They may be in the Bible but meaning something totally different than what is used. There is great power in words and we need to make sure we are speaking Truth from the Word of God.
This one seems to find its way into messages and fairly common conversation, “God helps those who help themselves.” Now when I hear this it raises several questions like what exactly does this mean, where in the Bible is this found, and what kind of attitude does this promote? Let us look at some of these.
This phrase is not found in the Bible at all. Some attribute it to Ben Franklin in his poor Richard’s almanac but it goes back even farther. Aesop’s fable called Hercules and the Wagoner has this phrase in it. So then the question is, does this concept have any standing in the Bible? As far as salvation goes, we are totally helpless and God has to save us. We cannot gain salvation apart from the completed work of Christ, John 14:6. We also cannot gain salvation on our own works, Rom. 3:23; 6:23; Is. 64:6; Rom. 5:8; II Cor. 5:21.
We also are called to help and defend the helpless, Ps 82:3; Prov. 19:17; Is 58:10. I think the attitude behind this phrase some times lends to getting out of helping the poor. Many times, we see the poor as being there by their own choices, pride sets in, and then say they need to help themselves.
The Bible does indeed talk of personal responsibility and effort which we call faith. This is obedience to the Lord no matter what. This is a personal journey and response to the Lord and our love for Him. God does bless personal faith, Col. 3:23; I Tim. 5:8; Prov. 16:3. God does want His children to be faithful and many times this involves personal action and choices. God does bless them indeed and may He get the glory! May we remember the power of words and use them to Lift up Christ not the flesh.