God: Does He help those who help themselves?
I don’t remember when it was that I first heard someone make a statement about this, but it was many years ago. Is it true the God helps those who help themselves? Is it true that God ONLY helps those who help themselves? Obviously, some people think this is the way things work on this. Is it? I’m here reminded of some of Christ’s words that relate to this.
Matthew 11:28
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [Emphasis added]
I’ve taken this verse out of its context, but the principle stated here is ongoing. It is God and Christ we can and should turn to in our weariness about all kinds of things. I’m here reminded of the words of an old hymn that hangs framed next to my bathroom sink.
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
What excellent advice this is that we should all heed! But why is it that so many people spend so little time in prayer? Isn’t it obvious! Isn’t it because people don’t believe they have a need to pray? Yes, I’m afraid that’s exactly why it is. If they truly felt the need for it, they’d do it. Furthermore, if they thought it would really make a difference, they’d do it. But what do the Scriptures tell us? Can’t we trust what they say about this? What does our apostle Paul say about it? What are our standing orders on this?
1 Thessalonians 5:17
17 Pray without ceasing. [Emphasis added]
Isn’t this also what the apostle Paul tells us his own practice was?
2 Timothy 1:3
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; [Emphasis added]
Isn’t this what we should all be doing?
In my lifetime I’ve come to believe that man’s greatest need is the realization of his ongoing need for God. The way this sense of need comes to expression is through his realization of his expressed need for the Word of God. We may need things like food, clothing, and shelter, but more than anything else it is God’s Word in our thinking that is truly our greatest need. Isn’t this what our Lord said in the time of His earthly ministry?
Matthew 4:4
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. [Emphasis added]
And isn’t it through the words of Scripture that we find what God tells us He expects of us for salvation and ultimately entrance into Heaven? What are we told about this?
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
It is because of our salvation and our ongoing relationship with God that we have immediate access to God through prayer to secure His help.
Ephesians 2:18
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. [Emphasis added]
People often dream of having access to certain people they feel could help them in some way. But what could be more helpful and more important than having access to God for His help? It seems to me that we all need to be in constant touch with Him through prayer. And who is it that He will respond to with answers and help when needed? Is it those who focus on working to help themselves? It is not! It is the helpless, just as it is in our salvation. Some people think they’re in a position to help themselves into salvation and ultimately Heaven. Is that true? What does the Bible tell us about this?
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
Such passages are in place to let us know that we have nothing to contribute to our salvation except the sin that made it necessary. Always realize that all those people who’ve always thought their works contributed to their salvation aren’t really saved. They may feel safe and saved by their works, but they are certainly not. Their own works have nothing to do with it. They are completely helpless to secure it on their own. God only saves people who know they are helpless to save themselves.
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
Why do I quote verses like these so often? It is because we are all so helpless. It is actually a great virtue just to realize how weak and helpless we are. We all need to be very aware of our need for God in everything we do every day. So, what is the place of “works” in relation to this? Answer: They are to be the byproduct of our salvation, not the means to it. Yes, we are to help ourselves into the full-time activity of relating God’s Word to everything we think, say, and do. However, there are situations that can arise when “our works” can’t help us at all. We may feel our back is to a wall like the Israelites felt when they were trying to escape the captivity of the Egyptian Pharoah and his huge army. Note what Moses told the people in that helpless situation.
Exodus 14:13-14
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. [Emphasis added]
They weren’t told to help themselves. In this case there wasn’t anything they could do to help themselves. They found themselves cornered in what appeared to be a helpless and hopeless situation.
We find another situation given like this when God’s people felt this way. We can all learn from what they were then told.
2 Chronicles 20:2-9
2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,
6 And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. [Emphasis added]
Then we have another important statement about this situation later in this same passage.
2 Chronicles 20:17
17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. [Emphasis added]
That was then but what about now? Does all this relate to us today? It surely does! Our best times for spiritual progress and growth can be when we see ourselves as completely helpless in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. We do need to do all we can do to remedy situations, but there’s always only so much we can do. When we know we’ve done those things we’re to pray and watch the Lord do the rest.
We’re to also always realize that there will be situations where our Lord may not deliver us FROM something, but THROUGH it. Either way we come out victorious. The key to it all is in seeking peace of mind through our Lord, realizing that ultimately our “battles” in life are our Lord’s to fight. There comes a time to stop striving and to start relying totally on God’s provision to help us.
What are the present needs in your life? Is there something that seems to be a hopeless situation? Fortunately, we find that our God is a specialist in those kinds of situations. We just need to turn to Him in prayer, making our requests to Him. Please take a good look at what He says we’re to do.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
What exactly does it mean to “be careful for nothing”? The Greek word here is NOEMA which is a word for thought. In this case it is speaking of the thoughts associated with fear and worry. It is telling us we’re not to fear or worry about anything. Then notice what He promises to be the outcome of our fearless and worriless prayers. Does He promise to give us what we request in our prayers? No, something even better!
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. [Emphasis added]
There’s another passage we should also relate to this.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations [LOGISMOS = thoughts of outcomes we may worry about], and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God [a reference to anything we’d put above or as a substitute for the value of God’s Word on the matter], and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; [Emphasis added]
All this tells us we’re to utilize the divine operating assets we’re given through God’s Word and the application of it. No false substitutes are to be seen as acceptable. We’re to apply what we’ve learned from the Bible and God’s Word that’s directed to us today.
I learned a long time ago that God’s prepares the faithful believer for what’s before Him. Our great God sees what’s coming and we must trust Him to prepare us for it. We are told to walk, that is, to live in the Spirit. This means we’re to walk through life working to readily apply those things we’ve learned through our studies of God’s Word. It is in this way that God will “walk” us through any circumstance or situation we face. In the midst of these things we’ll then get to enjoy a sense of peace that is beyond anything that can be known naturally.
Again, Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [PHROUREO = guard (a military term)] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. [Emphasis added]
It is knowledge of God and His Word that will GUARD our minds from worry, fear, panic, hysteria or whatever you want to call it. It is in this manner that God helps the naturally helpless. By this which we may speak of as spiritual understanding, we can have perfect peace of mind through literally anything we’re ever faced with in this life. What a priceless possession God’s Word proves to be every day and in every situation! Never be so foolish as to live a life neglecting the learning and application of it!
For more information about worry, please see this article about it–
