“God helps those who help themselves.” Although this famous quote is usually attributed to Benjamin Franklin from Poor Richard’s Almanac, did you know that it actually comes from Algernon Sydney, a 17th- century English politician, in an article titled Discourses Concerning Government?
Regardless of its origins, you’ll find many versions of this quote on motivational posters, mugs, and marathon T-shirts. “God” is sometimes changed to “the universe” or “the gods” these days, but the sentiment is still there: If you need help from anyone or anything with power, you’d better make yourself worthy of help first. This idea is hardly comforting, but it remains famous because it offers the illusion of control. Let’s take a look at how believing the lie “God helps those who help themselves” affects relationships with God and others and then see what truths God’s Word offers us instead.
The Vertical Relationship (You and God)
The idea that God’s help isn’t necessary unless something goes wrong ties back to our exploration of karma and deism, but this final lie tacks on the false teaching that maybe God doesn’t care because you haven’t quite earned his attention yet. Whatever it is, you just need to figure it out on your own first. Prove to God that you’re really, really committed, and he’ll feel moved enough to give you the victorious, purpose-driven Christian life people like to describe.
Sadly, even after confessing that we can’t earn our way to heaven, we’re often tempted to pick up this works-righteous mindset and expect it to carry us through the rest of our spiritual lives. “Sure,” we think, “Jesus paid for my sins, but I need to make sure I’m doing my part by finishing what he started.” This type of thinking is popular not only in Catholicism but also in a growing number of Evangelical churches. . . and by extension, popular Christian resources found online and in stores. Paul confronted this same problem in Galatians. To those who thought that faith in Christ required returning to the law, Paul wrote, “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:20, 21).
Ephesians 2:1 tells us plainly, “You were dead in your transgressions and sins.” The dead can’t call for help or make themselves alive, especially through the law. Only someone with power over sin and death could help them. Thus, verses 4 and 5 continue, “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” The truth is that God helps those who can’t help themselves. There is nothing you can add to his rescue mission. It is truly finished!
The Horizontal Relationship (You and Others)
The second aspect of the lie “God helps those who help themselves” is thinking that others need to help themselves too. The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University found that approximately one out of five people with an otherwise biblical worldview believe that wealth is primarily meant to serve themselves as a product of their hard work or that it is simply a matter of privilege in an unfair society. Certainly, many blessings come from working hard and enjoying the results, but it’s important to acknowledge that whatever we have comes from God, including the ability to work.
Moses reminded the Israelites of these truths in Deuteronomy 8:17, 18, “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” Likewise, David acknowledged the true source of wealth as he helped Solomon prepare to build the temple:
Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all. (1 Chronicles 29:12)
Because God is the one who gives us everything we have, he wants us to be good stewards by faithfully using our spiritual and physical gifts to help others. Because God helped us when we were helpless, we’re free to give generously and have genuine compassion for those who are struggling. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10).
A Final Thought for This Blog Series
These lies aren’t going away any time soon. If only there were just ten, but there are many more! Like weeds, they pop up again and again according to our shifting values and priorities. The desire to reshape God to look and act like us is as strong as it was after the fall into sin. Reacting to the findings of his studies, Director of Research at Arizona Christian University’s Cultural Research Center George Barna notes,
So many of these perspectives are about control. Whether we are taking charge of our destiny, our spirituality, boundaries dictated by truth, moral behaviors, or wealth management strategies, Americans are largely driven by a need to have control of every aspect of their lives. . . It is clear from the research that most individuals—even a large majority of those who consider themselves to be Christian, and who participate in Christian activities—are unwilling to surrender the reins of their life to a God whom they do not personally know, understand, or trust.
Without hearing the message of Christ, it is impossible for anyone to have faith in God, much less trust his wisdom on justice, finances, or the meaning of life. Thankfully, we have good news to share with them! Likewise, without looking to God’s Word on a regular basis, it’s easy for any believer to drift toward the lies of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature. Thankfully, these lies won’t last forever! We know that the truth of God’s Word will overcome and outlast any lie we encounter. By keeping all of his promises, God has shown that we can always trust his words about our lives here and in eternity. I hope that this series encourages you to continue sharing the truth in love and the good news of our Savior, knocking out one lie at a time.
Recommended Resources:
- Grace Abounds: The Splendor of Christian Doctrine
- Conversion: Not by My Own Choosing from the People’s Bible Teachings series
- Stewardship: What I Do With What God Gave Me from the People’s Bible Teachings series
- Gospel Motivation: More Than “Jesus Died for My Sins” from the Impact Series
written by Erika Sims, edited by Ray Schumacher