Christians, please! Tell me where this is coming from?

Question

Because I don't think it's the Bible!!! A Christian just posted this, "God helps those who helps themselves. God doesnt want people to totally rely on him, thats why He gave us free will "

Where does it say this in the Bible? Because to me, the Gospel says the exact opposite:

God helps those who CANNOT help themselves.

God wants TOTAL RELIANCE ON HIM in all things.

Show me the words "free will" in the Bible.




I'm sorry if it seems like a rant, but it's time we separate what God said from what we think God would say. Anybody with me?

I should also add that I believe the Bible teaches that ever since the fall, the only "free will" we have is to choose sin over God in every decision. ONLY after regeneration can God work through our new heart, giving us even the ability and desire to do anything of merit.

Oh, yeah--and did I forget to thank all of you for your AWESOME answers? Well, thank you! Even though I may not have agreed with all that was posted, it's heartening to know that many others, from many different denominations, are "studying to show themselves approved". Any of you peeps live in PA? Because I would LOVE to contact you sometime!

Lawrence (and other "free-will" promoters :P):

"I put before you today, Life and Death. Choose ye therefore Life."

I feel this is pulled out of context. If it is not, it is in direct conflict with SO much of the book of Romans, the gospel of John, Ephesians... I could go on and on! But I'm not trying to attack you or anything--what are your thoughts? Do you see that this one verse stands alone theologically if you're using it in the sense of justification?

Answer 1

Ah, that is found in Hezekiah 13:13. (No, there is no such book. Therefore, there is no such biblical passage.)

This saying is man's wisdom, not God's. You are correct, man can do nothing. As it is written: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5)

I do believe in free will, to a degree, but not in the context presented here.

Answer 2

I'm definitely with you. That is NOT in the bible and I have no idea who first started that particular myth! God DOES want EVERYONE to rely on Him for every detail of their lives. He allows trials in our lives for this very reason - to break us and show us that we NEED Him in our lives. However, He does give us free will to choose whether or not to follow Him. I don't think the words "free will" appear in the bible specifically, but in Joshua 24:15, it says to choose who you will serve. Also, Jesus spoke in parables about people being offered the opportunity for salvation through Him, but choosing to go their own way. (Matthew 13:1-8, for example.)

Also, I can't remember the exact passage (I know it's one of the four gospels - maybe all of them), but the bible says that Jesus was preaching to the multitudes of disciples and many of them turned away after hearing Him because they said it would be "too hard" to follow His teachings. If we do our part, God will do His.

As far as disease, handicaps, or bad experiences go - believe it or not, good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people - but it is ALL going to glorify God eventually. These situations actually make some people STRONGER and give them the ability to witness to others in the same circumstances! It's easier to empathize with somebody else's situation when you've actually experienced the same thing personally!

Bottom line - people cannot change the Word of God, make up something that isn't there, or pick only to follow the parts that make them "feel good" and call themselves true Christians. It doesn't work that way. You either accept the ENTIRE word of God or none of it...plain and simple. You may come across a few "OUCH! Hallelujahs!" in it's message; but at least you'll become more spiritually mature!

Answer 3

It absolutely is not in the Bible. God is actually in the business of helping the people who can't help themselves. Not only that, but He commands us to do things that we cannot do on our own power.

I'm not sure where this particular phrase came from but you would be surprised how many sayings are attributed to the bible that have other sources. That's why it's so important to study.

As for free will, you're right, those words don't appear but the concept does. That's just like the words rapture and trinity also are not in the bible but are names for the concepts presented in the bible.

Answer 4

God helps those who help themselves is NOT in the Bible you are absolutely right- one of my friends once said that we must add a book to the bible for all these quotes and call it "book of justifications". This is a joke, but really it is truth in disguise because we really do not want to rely on God totally- we as humans think we are good enough to be able to handle things on our own. God does give us choice, that is why Adam and Eve sinned and that is why we sin as well, however- Jesus came to save us from sin - which means we can do nothing apart from Him.

Answer 5

You're correct, funny how people can quote verses in the Bible about man's choices, but refuse to deal with all of the ones that are very specific about God's sovereignty. I think if they were to consider that both things are happening at the same time, they might open their minds to what the Bible says.

Answer 6

Let me just say this. Lets just say you are driving to church or work or school or somewhere you had to be. If you were going to pray to God for help, would you pull over and get on your knees or would you whisper your prayer into the air as you were driving toward your destination?

Or lets say you want to loose weight. Do you sit on the couch with your box of twinkys and ask God to help you loose weight? Or would you get active and ask God to assist you in loosing weight?

I think there is a time for everything. On some occasions it is good to get alone on your knees before God and ask for help. But sometimes you have to keep "running the race" as mentioned in Hebrews while you pray.

Answer 7

The fact is, you could have ten people read the same bible verse, and you would get ten different responses as to what it means.

It is a unique document in that regard - it is one of the few capable of creating such a divide between people. Think about all the sects of christianity - and how each one thinks they have a 100% monopoly on the 'truth'.

Answer 8

One of the reasons God hasn't destroyed the wicked yet is that he is giving mankind the opportunity to see that they cannot rule themselves. Man has tried all types of governments but has never succeeded. He won't ever succeed, because he was not meant to rule himself.
Ecclesiastes 8:9 - "All this I have seen, and there was an applying of my heart to every work that has been done under the sun, [during] the time that man has dominated man to his injury."
Psalm 2:2 -"The kings of earth take their stand
And high officials themselves have massed together as one
Against Jehovah and against his anointed one,"
Jeremiah 10:23: “I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”

Answer 9

Free Will is a reality.

"When only a miracle leads a person to acknowledgment of God and to adoration and piety, he acts from the natural and not the spiritual man. For a miracle infuses belief by an external and not an internal way, thus from the world and not from heaven. The Lord enters man by an internal way, by the Word and by doctrine and preaching from it. As miracles close this way, no miracles are done today" (Divine Providence n. 131).

Man is not brought by external means to think and will, thus to love and believe what pertains to religion, but the man brings himself and compels himself to do so. Self-compulsion is not contrary to rationality and freedom. (Divine Providence n. 129).

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." -- Rev. 3:20 KJV

Miracles do not induce faith. "That miracles are of this nature can be clearly established from those performed in the presence of the people of Judah and Israel. Although they beheld many miracles in the land of Egypt and later at the Red Sea and others in the Wilderness and particularly on Mt. Sinai when the Law was promulgated, nevertheless, in a month's time while Moses tarried on that mountain, they made themselves a golden calf and hailed it as Jehovah who had led them out of the land of Egypt (Ex 32:4-6). Again, it is plain from the miracles done later in the land of Canaan; nevertheless the people fell away time and again from the prescribed worship. It is equally plain from the miracles which the Lord did before their eyes when He was in the world; yet they crucified Him. (Divine Providence n. 132).

Answer 10

There is a similar verse in the Quran that says God helps those who help themselves. So maybe this is where its coming from. I'm muslim

"Surely God does not change the state in which a people are until they change that which is in themselves."

meaning if I dont study for my exam and pray I wont pass miraculously :)