is there a biblical reference?

Question

is there scripture that supports the phrase, 'god helps those who help themselves'?

i've heard it a thousand times, and was just wondering if someone made it up, or if it is biblical.

Answer 1

Maybe that explains why, in a nationwide poll conducted by Barna Research Institute, 82% of Americans said they believed that the phrase "God helps those who help themselves" is a direct quote from the Bible.(2)

It's not.

Actually, the saying comes from Aesop's Fables. The story goes like this: "A Wagoner was once driving a heavy load along a very muddy way. He came to a part of the road where the wheels sank half-way into the mire, and the more the horses pulled, the deeper sank the wheels. So the Wagoner threw down his whip, and knelt down and prayed to Hercules the Strong. 'O Hercules, help me in this my hour of distress." But Hercules appeared to him, and said: 'Man, don't sprawl there. Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel. The gods help them that help themselves.


HOWEVER, along the same lines: "He who does not work shall not eat." Yet we hear that some of you are living in laziness, refusing to work, and wasting your time in gossiping. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we appeal to such people--we command them--to quiet down, get to work, and earn their own living. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12TLB

Answer 2

Like others have said, it's not a direct quote from the Bible, but I just thought of an interesting connection.

In Matthew 25 we read the Parable of the Talents. Each servant is given a number of talents while their Master is away. When he returns, those that improved upon those talents are blessed with being rulers over many things. The servant that did not improve upon his talent ends up losing the one that he was given.

I think some ties can be found here. God wants us to use what He's given us.

Answer 3

Great question.
Sort of, but not always. God helps people who are helpless and undeserving of His grace and mercy as well as those who work at what they want. Usually, this is talking about natural things like seeking for a job, etc.
There is a natural result of you putting in an effort. Even non-Christians reap these rewards without God's help. God does what He wills and helps people as He pleases. There is no formula to help yourself and He returns the favor. But you are probably going to see more results from helping yourself.

Here is what Prov 6 says about working:
6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.


So, this is saying that if you want to eat, you need to work. This is why the welfare system is completely ungodly. You teach people to be lazy.

Prov 13
4The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Prov 24
30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

So, basically, these scriptures sort of coincide with that statement. However, it is more so teaching you that you need to work for a living and not be a lazy bum. They are not saying that God is going to "help you" because you are helping yourself. It is just trying to say that you will reap the rewards of your labor.

There is a scripture that says if you make the effort to get to know God, He will return the effort. But, that is not helping yourself, it is seeking God.

James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded

So, the bottom line is that phrase is not really scriptural. It teaches you to expect things from God that He never really promised. Just continue to work hard at what you do and eventually you will see your hard work pay off.

Answer 4

"God helps those who help themselves" is probably the most often quoted Bible verse that actually is not in the Bible. In fact the Bible teaches the opposite. God helps the helpless! Isaiah 25:4 declares, "For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..." Romans 5:6 tells us, "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."

In terms of salvation, we are all utterly helpless. We are all infected by sin (Romans 3:23), and condemned as a result of that sin (Romans 6:23). Nothing we can do on our own can remedy this situation (Isaiah 64:6). We are helpless! Thankfully, God is the helper of the helpless. While we were still sinners (helpless), Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus paid the penalty that we were helpless to pay (2 Corinthians 5:21). God provided the "help" that we need precisely because we could not help ourselves.

Apart from salvation, there is perhaps a way that the concept "God helps those who help themselves" is correct. As an example, if you asked me to help you move a piece of furniture, but then just watched me as I moved the furniture for you...I was not actually helping you. I was would be doing the work for you. Many Christians fall into the trap of inactivity. Many Christians ask God for help, but then expect God to do everything Himself. They excuse this by pointing to the fact that God will provide according to His will and in His timing. However, this is not a reason for inactivity. As a specific example, if you are in need of a job, ask the Lord to help you find a job - but then be active in actually looking for a job. While it is in His power to do so, it is highly unlikely that God will cause employers to come looking for you!

Does God help those who help themselves? In regards to salvation - no. No one is capable of helping themselves. God has provided for our salvation through Jesus Christ. We are utterly helpless in achieving our own salvation. In regards to the Christian life - sometimes yes. God will help us to accomplish His will in and through our lives...but God expects us to be active and energetic while seeking to accomplish His will. God rarely "helps" a person who is unwilling to participate in the process.

Answer 5

"Is the expression 'God helps those who help themselves' in the Bible?" Only 38% of all Christians correctly stated that the phrase cannot be found anywhere in the Scriptures. Forty-two percent thought that this was a Biblical quotation, and 20% had no idea.

Trying to pinpoint the origin of a statement is a difficult task, but one source indicates that the saying originated in Aesop's Fable of Hercules and the Carter. A man was driving a wagon with a heavy load along a very muddy way when the wheels sank halfway into the mire. The more the horses pulled, the deeper the wheels sank. Finally the man threw down his whip, knelt down and prayed to Hercules, a mythical god, “O Hercules, help me in this my hour of distress." But Hercules appeared to him, and said: “Man, don't sprawl there. Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel. The gods help them that help themselves.”

While the exact phrase may not be found in Scripture, some have contended that the concept is Biblical. The Apostle Paul once wrote to some folks who had a “sit down and let God do it” philosophy of life. He wrote, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). In a way Paul is actually saying, “God helps those who help themselves.”

On the other hand, this phrase “God helps those who help themselves” should never be misconstrued to mean that the amount of man’s effort determines whether God helps the cause. The truth is – God is not interested in helping those who are self-reliant.

Consider the message found in Jeremiah 17:5 – “This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.’” Solomon wrote, “He who trusts in himself is a fool…” (Proverbs 28:26).

Jesus explained in Matthew 7:7 that we receive help from God when we trust in Him enough to ask for help, to seek His will, and to do our part by knocking. David explained the importance of trusting God when he wrote, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalms 20:7).

After praying that God guides and protects our nation, we then build weapons and train our military. I pray that God will give me good health, but I exercise and try to do those things that promote good health. When illnesses occur, I pray to God, but I still have medical examinations and take prescription medications when necessary. I pray that God keeps me safe and secure, but I still lock my house and car.

The statement “God helps those who help themselves” is not a Biblical quotation, but does the statement express a Scriptural truth? Yes and no! Yes, “God helps those who help themselves.” His help may not come the way we expect it, but God helps if we ask and seek. No, “God does not help those who help themselves.” On the surface they may get what they seek, but true blessings will not result for those who trust and rely on their own efforts and fail to trust in God.

Answer 6

No, it is made up. Actually, God wants us to turn to Him for help, not help ourselves. What he doesn't want is for us to just sit around waiting for miracles to occur without us doing anything, and I think that is where the phrase came from, but it is totally misconstrued.

Answer 7

Hmm..try II Opinions 12:34...

j/k

Answer 8

I've heard the phrase several times also and even researched on http://www.biblegateway.com/ but with no success. I believe it is Catholic in origin, only because I mostly hear it in that setting. I, however, am Protestant.
Good luck with your search.

Answer 9

Closest thing is this:

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world

Answer 10

There is a verse in the Qur'an which says that God does not change the condition of any people until they change themselves.