"God Helps Those Who Help Themselves"

At least for those of us who live in the United States, we have all likely heard this phrase at some point: “God helps those who help themselves.” This statement is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). It is also sometimes cited as an example of a phrase that people mistakenly think is in the Bible.

To be clear, this phrase is NOT in the Bible. However, the principle absolutely is. In order to take full advantage of what God offers to us, we must do what we are able to do.

We can see this concept when we read of the example of King Hezekiah and the actions he took when the Assyrian army invaded Judah and intended to make war with Jerusalem. Notice what the Scripture records:

“After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself.

“Now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war on Jerusalem, he decided with his officers and his warriors to cut off the supply of water from the springs which were outside the city, and they helped him. So many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream which flowed through the region, saying, ‘Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?’

“And he took courage and rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down and erected towers on it, and built another outside wall and strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in great number.

“He appointed military officers over the people and gathered them to him in the square at the city gate, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, ‘Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah” (2 Chronicles 32:1-8).

Notice that in Hezekiah’s defense of Jerusalem against the Assyrians, he cut off the enemies’ water supply, rebuilt the wall to defend the city, made weapons and shields, appointed officers, and encouraged the people. Why would he do all of this? Did he not trust in God? Of course he did! He believed that God would “help us and…fight our battles” (2 Chronicles 32:8) – which He did by sending an angel who killed 185,000 of the Assyrian soldiers in one night. However, Hezekiah also knew that he needed to do what he was capable of doing.

The same is true for us today. Let us notice a few examples.

Providing Food

Jesus told us to pray for our food: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Did He mean that we were to pray and then sit around and wait for God to miraculously provide food for us? No. We have a responsibility to work. Paul told the brethren in Thessalonica, “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you…in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either” (2 Thessalonians 3:7-10). Just as they were to follow Paul’s example of working hard to provide for himself, we are to do the same.

We also need to be good stewards of what we have. The example of the prodigal son warns of what happens when we squander our blessings (Luke 15:11-16). When money is limited, we especially need to have the right priorities. Paul told Timothy, “If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:8). Making sure we have food to eat is more important than having the latest iPhone, a new car, and so on.

By working hard and being a good steward of what we have, we will not only be providing for ourselves but we will also be in a position where we can help those who cannot work in the same way. Paul wrote, “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need” (Ephesians 4:28). Just as God provides for the able-bodied through their work, he provides for those who are unable to work through the help of those who can.

Gaining Wisdom

We are told to pray for wisdom. James wrote, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). When we do this, we can be confident that we will receive this wisdom. James continued, “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6-8). We must have faith that God will provide wisdom when we ask, but how does He do it?

Remember what wisdom is – the application of knowledge. So how do we gain wisdom? First, we have to acquire knowledge. This was Paul’s prayer: “That you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9). How does this happen? Miraculously? No; rather, we gain knowledge through the study of the Scriptures. Paul told Timothy, “Be diligent [study, KJV] to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). He told the Ephesians that when they read what he wrote to them, they could “understand [his] insight into the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4).

Second, after acquiring knowledge, we need to apply it and put it into practice in our lives. The Hebrew writer explained that through “practice” with the word of God, we can have our “senses trained to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14). A little bit after the instruction to pray for wisdom, James wrote, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22). It is not enough simply to hear God’s word, we must practice it. When we do, we will train our senses in the ways of wisdom.

Obtaining Forgiveness

God is willing to forgive us, yet this forgiveness is conditional. Peter explained that we must repent in order to be forgiven: “The Lord is…not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). However, the New Testament is clear that forgiveness is impossible without God’s grace. Paul wrote, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5). Even so, we have a responsibility.

For the non-Christian, obtaining forgiveness involves following what we sometimes call the “plan of salvation.” This includes hearing the gospel, believing in Jesus as the Christ, repenting of sins, confessing one’s faith, and being baptized into Christ (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 22:16).*
For the Christian, forgiveness can be obtained through repentance and prayer. When Simon sinned after obeying the gospel, Peter told him, “Repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:22). In writing to Christians, John explained, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

God is willing to forgive, but whether we are a Christian or a non-Christian, we must meet the conditions set forth in His word to receive His forgiveness.

Growing in Strength

Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). He also prayed that his brethren would be strengthened as well (Colossians 1:9, 11). However, as with everything else, we have a responsibility to be strengthened through Christ.

We need to take advantage of those things that can strengthen us, all of which have been given by God:

The word of God (the Scriptures) – Paul told the Ephesian elders that the word was “able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). We are to be “constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6). As Jesus said when He was tempted, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
The example of Christ – The Hebrew writer said we are to “[fix] our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith… For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3). He left “an example for [us] to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).
The encouragement of brethren – We are to “encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). We need to take advantage of the times to assemble together so we can “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” and to “[encourage] one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

We can grow in strength if we take advantage of these things that God has provided.

Conclusion

James wrote, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17). Everything good that we have in this life and that we hope to gain in the next life is from God. Yet we are responsible to do what we can to take advantage of His blessings.

We need to avoid two extremes: