God helps those who help themselves.. can you point to a scripture in the Holy Bible that says this?

Question

ok so Ben Franklin said it, but maybe he knew of a scripture from the 'good book'?

like the parable of the talents..those that did well recieved more, those that did poorly had what they had taken and given to those who showed their worth?

Answer 1

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

Now, there is an element of truth in that. You can't just sit around and expect God to miraculously do everything for you. That's what the Apostle Paul once wrote to a group of people with a lay-back-and-let-God-do-it-all attitude. It's in the outline:

"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 3:10-12
In other words, "Put your shoulder to the wheel. God isn't pleased with laziness." In that sense, Paul is saying, "God helps those who help themselves."

*edit* God helps the helpless too...i was just pointing out the closest reference I could find about helping those who help themselves

Answer 2

NONE! At thirty years of age Jesus presented himself to be baptized. On that occasion God’s own voice said: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.” And so John the Baptist, who witnessed the event, said of Jesus: “This one is the Son of God.”—Matt. 3:17; John 1:34. Jesus’ apostles and friends repeatedly identified him in this way. Said Nathanael: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God.” (John 1:49) Peter exclaimed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt. 16:16) Martha confessed: “You are the Christ, the Son of God.” (John 11:27) The apostle John wrote so people might believe that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of God.” (John 20:31) And of the apostle Paul’s ministry it is said: “He began to preach Jesus, that this One is the Son of God.” Acts 9:20. Did Peter, Paul, John or any other of Jesus’ followers preach that he was God? No, from these scriptures it is clear that they taught he was God’s Son. The Trinity doctrine includes the following definite ideas: 1. There are said to be three divine persons—the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit—in the Godhead. 2. Each of these separate persons is said to be eternal, none coming before or after the other in time. 3. Each is said to be almighty, with none greater or lesser than the other. 4. Each is said to be omniscient, knowing all things. 5. Each is said to be true God. 6. However, it is said that there are not three Gods but only one God. Search as you may, you will not find one scripture that uses the word Trinity, nor will you find any that says that Father, Son, and holy spirit are equal in all ways, such as in eternity, power, position, and wisdom. Not even a single scripture says that the Son is equal to the Father in those ways—and if there were such a scripture, it would establish not a Trinity but at most a “duality.” Nowhere does the Bible equate the holy spirit with the Father. Does John 1:1 mean that Jesus was God? No. Notice how some translations render this part of the verse: 1808: "and the word was a god." The New Testament in an Improved Version, Upon the Basis of Archbishop Newcome's New Translation: With a Corrected Text. 1864: "and a god was the word." The Emphatic Diaglott, interlinear reading, by Benjamin Wilson. 1928: "and the Word was a divine being." La Bible du Centenaire, L'Evangile selon Jean, by Maurice Goguel. 1935: "and the Word was divine." The Bible—An American Translation, by J. M. P. Smith and E. J. Goodspeed. 1946: "and of a divine kind was the Word." Das Neue Testament, by Ludwig Thimme. 1950: "and the Word was a god." New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures. 1958: "and the Word was a God." The New Testament, by James L. Tomanek. 1975: "and a god (or, of a divine kind) was the Word." Das Evangelium nach Johannes, by Siegfried Schulz. 1978: "and godlike kind was the Logos." Das Evangelium nach Johannes, by Johannes Schneider. John 1:1 highlights the quality of the Word, that he was "divine," "godlike," "a god," but not Almighty God. This harmonizes with the rest of the Bible, which shows that Jesus, here called "the Word" in his role as God's Spokesman, was an obedient subordinate sent to earth by his Superior, Almighty God. Joseph Henry Thayer, a theologian and scholar who worked on the American Standard Version, stated simply: "The Logos was divine, not the divine Being himself." And Jesuit John L. McKenzie wrote in his Dictionary of the Bible: "Jn 1:1 should rigorously be translated . . . 'the word was a divine being.'"

Answer 3

While there is a certain amount of truth to this statement, it is one that is so often twisted to lead us into putting faith in our own strength and wisdom instead of trusting in God.

I think the closest Biblical example of the truthfulness of this statement, however, is John 5 below...although after I think about what really happened here even, I realize it was Christ who was ultimately doing the real work...though man surely helped through his belief and obedience...

2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3Here a great number of disabled people used to lie--the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" 7"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." 8Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. (John 5)

Answer 4

It is not from the Bible, which says almost the opposite of this.
The clear message and meaning in the parable of the Last Judgement (Matthew 25) is, God helps those who help others.

Answer 5

There is no scripture in the Bible that says "God helps those who help themselves". God actually helps those who admit to Him that they cannot help themselves. He helps people on the basis of having faith in and trusting Him and taking Him at His Word that He says He will help. Now you still have to put action to that faith (see James 2:14-26), but that's still less trying to 'help yourself' and more stepping out and trusting God.

Answer 6

Actually, Ben Franklin was quoting Aesop's Fables when he said this.

This concept is not in the Bible; in fact, God tells us the exact OPPOSITE of this. Repeatedly, he tells us we must become helpless before He will step in and save us. For example, Romans 5:6 reads, "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."

Peace.

Answer 7

This is not a Biblical quote, however the principle is in this scripture:

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this, that if anyone would not work, neither should he eat.

Answer 8

"The Gods help those who help themselves" was a common saying of the greeks 500+ bc

Answer 9

There is no scripture in the bible that says that.

--Kimo where in the Holy Bible does it say that? Book and Chapter and verse?

Answer 10

I believe that this myth is said to support organized corporate churches.

God sent Jesus for the unhealthy. The heathly did not need a healer. God sent Jesus to help the unrighteous. The righteous need no more help for they understand and know Jesus.

If God only helps those who help themselves then we are all going to Hell. God knows that mankind can't help themselves... that is why He sent Jesus.
Sincerely,
OSirLucas

Answer 11

2 Thessalonians 3:10 condems the idol people, Hebrews 11:6 Says that without faith it is impossible to please God. and James 2:14-20 says that faith without works is dead. So although the exact phrase is not fouond in the Bible the message is still pretty clear. work or don't eat and have faith while doing your good works, then God can work through you.