God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

How many times have we heard that expression, "God helps those who help themselves"? It is a very powerful, motivating statement that can help us to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and get moving on with our lives. This statement can be misleading, however, because it also implies that unless you try to help yourself, God won't either. Which book of the Bible can this expression be found? None! It is not even in the Bible. This saying was made famous by Ben Franklin in 1736. He was a Deist, so he did not believe that God took an active role in our lives. In his point of view, if a man was unable to help himself, then he was simply hopeless. Thank God that is not the truth!

Let me provide a few Scriptures for you to look up: Romans 5: 6-8, Proverbs 28:26, and Jeremiah 17:5. These passages teach us that we can do nothing without God. God is the sole source of our strength. The expression made famous by Franklin can be a good one in that it can motivate us to get going. But if you happen to find yourself flat on your back and unable to get moving, call upon the name of Jesus! He will deliver you; His perfect Word guarantees it. So if you are low, and I mean real low, don't fret. For when we are so low that we can not even help ourselves, it is our faith in Jesus, and not our effort, that delivers us. What a great feeling. Even If I am unable to help myself, God still will help me.

Psalm 72:12 says, "God will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help."

Father, thank you for loving us. I ask you to help all those who can, and can not, help themselves. In Jesus name, Amen.