When it comes to the fundamental spiritual matter of salvation, we must say this: It’s clear to see that God helps those who know they cannot help themselves. If you believe you can save yourself, it merely shows you don’t grasp how bad off you really are.
My dad used to say, “You know, son, the Bible says, ‘God helps those who help themselves.'” I grew up believing that—until I read the Bible and discovered it doesn’t say that anywhere. Most Americans also believe that; 52 percent of practicing Christians, in fact. It sounds reasonable, even logical. But it’s just not there.
Where did this statement originate? Aesop’s Fables says, “The gods help those who help themselves.” Euripides wrote, “Try first thyself, and after call in God.” An ancient Chinese expression said, “Heaven rewards the diligent.” In the 17th century, Algernon Sidney expressed the idea that God helps those who help themselves. But in this country, we got it from Benjamin Franklin who seems to have copied the statement into his Poor Richard’s Almanack.
Whatever the original source, it’s not found in Scripture. As we discovered, God doesn’t help those who help themselves, God helps the helpless.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26). On the other hand, they work hard at gathering food. They are cooperating with God’s provision. So, in a sense, we would say God helps those who are diligent, who get out and are busy.
We should be cooperating with God when it comes to our spiritual growth toward maturity. Peter said, “Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue…” (2 Peter 1:5). So on one hand, God provides. On the other hand, it takes effort, diligence, and cooperation with God. Philippians 2:12-13 says, “Work out your own salvation… for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” So which is it, you or God? The answer is: both.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). We have nothing which could merit God’s goodness and salvation. Romans 5 tells us, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly…. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (vv. 6, 8-10).
God loves you so much, He’s willing to help you by sacrificing His Son on a cross. But this passage has even better news—most profoundly, this: If the dying Jesus can save us, surely the living Jesus will sustain us. Put another way, if your sin could not keep you from His love before you were saved, do you really think it can drive His love away after?
He is still helping the helpless. “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
In terms of salvation, we are utterly helpless. We are all infected with sin. As a result, we are all under condemnation.
But God helps the helpless. Jesus paid the penalty. He continues to provide because the Christ who died for us is the Christ who is resurrected. And by His life, He keeps giving help to the helpless.
