God helps those who help themselves – truth or lie? {2 Chronicles 14:1 - 16:14}
12:30 AM
April 10, 2018
Now
that I’ve gotten your attention, I bet some of you are wondering if this is a
scripture verse or not. I won’t keep you
hanging for too long. This is in fact a
quote from Benjamin Franklin. He used it in his Poor Richard's Almanack (1736)
and it has been widely quoted. The English political theorist Algernon Sidney originated the
phrase.
You’ve probably
heard the story about the man who placed his trust in the Lord when a flood was
coming. He said that he would trust God,
and God would send a divine miracle to save him. The neighbors offered a ride. The river rose. Someone in a canoe came by. The river rose higher. A police motorboat came by. The river rose even higher. By now the man was on his rooftop. A helicopter with a rope ladder came by, but
still the man refused, saying God would save him. Shortly afterwards, the man got swept away by
the flood waters and he drowned. When he
arrived in heaven, he asked God why he hadn’t saved him. And God said, I sent you a warning. I sent you a car. I sent you a canoe. I sent you a motorboat. I sent you a helicopter. What more were you looking for?
Benjamin Franklin
actually gleaned this from Aesop’s fables – Hercules and the Waggoner. In the story the waggoner’s heavy load becomes
bogged down in the mud. In despair, the waggoner
cries out to Hercules for help. Hercules
replies, “Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel. The gods help them that help themselves.” Isn't it interesting that Greek mythology
has made its way into what believers think is in the pages of scripture?
However, this is not
of the Bible. Scripture is clear that in our original, sinful state we cannot
seek God on our own (Romans
3:10-18). God
chose us before we accepted Him (Romans
8:29-30), and once saved,
we are secure in that salvation forever (John 10:27-29). There is no part of salvation that we can
initiate or work toward. When it comes to salvation, we cannot help ourselves.
For the saved, however, the proverb has a little more merit. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 admonished that the church should not give aid to those who can work but refuse to. In John 21:6, Jesus promised the disciples a great harvest of fish—once they threw the net into the water.
A better version of the proverb would be "God blesses those who obey." The original proverb infers that God will help those engaged in good, beneficial things—and obviously getting a cart pulled out of the mud applies. But God does not promise His followers an easy life. In fact, He promises hardship (John 16:33; Acts 14:22). The blessing Jesus promises in return is the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit will not take away every struggle, but He will lead us to truth (John 16:13), seal us as God's (Ephesians 1:13-14), gift us with the ability to help others in the church (1 Corinthians 12:7), and give us wisdom when faced with persecution (Mark 13:11).
"God helps those who help themselves" seems true for the simple reason that things tend to get done more if we get down and do them. Our obedience to God produces fruit. The more modern version of this proverb in American Christian culture is "It's easier to steer a moving car," meaning, God can lead us more easily if we just start working for Him and stop talking about it... Our salvation and God's love are not dependent on our works. However, God has prepared good works for us (Ephesians 2:10) and does bless our obedience to Him.
For the saved, however, the proverb has a little more merit. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 admonished that the church should not give aid to those who can work but refuse to. In John 21:6, Jesus promised the disciples a great harvest of fish—once they threw the net into the water.
A better version of the proverb would be "God blesses those who obey." The original proverb infers that God will help those engaged in good, beneficial things—and obviously getting a cart pulled out of the mud applies. But God does not promise His followers an easy life. In fact, He promises hardship (John 16:33; Acts 14:22). The blessing Jesus promises in return is the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit will not take away every struggle, but He will lead us to truth (John 16:13), seal us as God's (Ephesians 1:13-14), gift us with the ability to help others in the church (1 Corinthians 12:7), and give us wisdom when faced with persecution (Mark 13:11).
"God helps those who help themselves" seems true for the simple reason that things tend to get done more if we get down and do them. Our obedience to God produces fruit. The more modern version of this proverb in American Christian culture is "It's easier to steer a moving car," meaning, God can lead us more easily if we just start working for Him and stop talking about it... Our salvation and God's love are not dependent on our works. However, God has prepared good works for us (Ephesians 2:10) and does bless our obedience to Him.
Just a month ago, we
read “But Samuel replied, “What is more
pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to
his voice? Obedience is far better than
sacrifice. Listening to him is much
better than offering the fat of rams.” 1
Samuel 15:22
God is the helper of
the helpless. I have recently had the
pleasure of looking back on my own life and realized that I was a hot mess when
I ran with the world. When my eyes were
finally opened to the truth of Jesus, that God had provided the “help” that I
needed because I was condemned as a result of my sin. But then I began to wallow in sorrow over my
past and how my loved ones were living.
But listen ladies - We just celebrated Easter – the risen Lord!
I shared this with a
couple of people already because it really ministered to me. I hope you enjoy it as well.
For the last three years the crowds had been following
Jesus.
The words He spoke had changed their lives. His explanations of God made them long to know Him. His continual pointing to the kingdom of heaven gave them hope that He would somehow free them from the bondage and oppression they suffered under.
HOW MUCH HAD CHANGED IN ONE WEEK.
Their HOPE had turned to hopelessness… their faith to fear.
Jesus the one they’d looked to for life had His drained from him on a Roman cross.
And though most of his followers had fled in fear for their lives, a few brave ones claimed his lifeless and broken body and buried it in a borrowed grave.
● It’s cruel to have been given hope and then have it ripped away.
It was in this environment of pain and sadness that the events recorded in John 20:1-30 takes place. Can you imagine the sorrow the followers of Jesus felt as they went to the tomb that first Easter morning?
SORROW’S EYES COLORED EVERYTHING THEY SAW.
The same can be true for us when we are going through difficult times. We often forget what God has promised
● The view at the foot of the cross was fresh in their memories.
It was unimaginably horrific to see. They had placed their hopes in Jesus and their Hope had died with Him! The Light… snuffed out with His death!
“Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying”.
● Even as Mary talked to the angels she could not really see what was happening since despair and grief colored her perception of the events
● SORROW’S EYES MISS A LOT! ● Facts don’t matter when one is blinded by despair!
(As the story unfolds in John 20:13-18 Jesus himself speaks to Mary)
“Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her.”
● At first, ‘sorrow’s eyes’ had blinded Mary; though her eyes functioned she did not see who was right in front of her. But the moment she heard the Master’s voice her eyes were opened and she saw with “Resurrection Eyes”!
● Without ‘Resurrection Eyes’ we see HOPELESSNESS
● But with “Resurrection Eyes’ we see HOPE
● Anything is possible when you look with “Resurrection eyes”
● Everything looks different standing in front of the risen Christ.
● Your Life begins to make sense at the mouth of the empty tomb!
● Because Jesus conquered the grave the HOPELESS have HOPE!
1 Corinthians 15:54-55 declares “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Mary left the tomb very different from how she came!
I CHALLENGE YOU TO PUT ASIDE YOUR EYES OF SORROW AND BEGIN TO SEE YOUR LIFE THROUGH ‘RESURRECTION EYES.’
The words He spoke had changed their lives. His explanations of God made them long to know Him. His continual pointing to the kingdom of heaven gave them hope that He would somehow free them from the bondage and oppression they suffered under.
HOW MUCH HAD CHANGED IN ONE WEEK.
Their HOPE had turned to hopelessness… their faith to fear.
Jesus the one they’d looked to for life had His drained from him on a Roman cross.
And though most of his followers had fled in fear for their lives, a few brave ones claimed his lifeless and broken body and buried it in a borrowed grave.
● It’s cruel to have been given hope and then have it ripped away.
It was in this environment of pain and sadness that the events recorded in John 20:1-30 takes place. Can you imagine the sorrow the followers of Jesus felt as they went to the tomb that first Easter morning?
SORROW’S EYES COLORED EVERYTHING THEY SAW.
The same can be true for us when we are going through difficult times. We often forget what God has promised
● The view at the foot of the cross was fresh in their memories.
It was unimaginably horrific to see. They had placed their hopes in Jesus and their Hope had died with Him! The Light… snuffed out with His death!
“Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying”.
● Even as Mary talked to the angels she could not really see what was happening since despair and grief colored her perception of the events
● SORROW’S EYES MISS A LOT! ● Facts don’t matter when one is blinded by despair!
(As the story unfolds in John 20:13-18 Jesus himself speaks to Mary)
“Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her.”
● At first, ‘sorrow’s eyes’ had blinded Mary; though her eyes functioned she did not see who was right in front of her. But the moment she heard the Master’s voice her eyes were opened and she saw with “Resurrection Eyes”!
● Without ‘Resurrection Eyes’ we see HOPELESSNESS
● But with “Resurrection Eyes’ we see HOPE
● Anything is possible when you look with “Resurrection eyes”
● Everything looks different standing in front of the risen Christ.
● Your Life begins to make sense at the mouth of the empty tomb!
● Because Jesus conquered the grave the HOPELESS have HOPE!
1 Corinthians 15:54-55 declares “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Mary left the tomb very different from how she came!
I CHALLENGE YOU TO PUT ASIDE YOUR EYES OF SORROW AND BEGIN TO SEE YOUR LIFE THROUGH ‘RESURRECTION EYES.’
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