If I am thirsty, and want a drink, God will help me by having me voluntarily get up and get a drink of water? Wow, that's very nice of him to do, but doesn't that steal my free will in a way, if it is really Him "helping me" and my own ambition to get a drink of water was merely an illusion of my own choice?
Of course, if I get in a car accident and I am trapped under burning metal and cannot pull myself free, then I suppose he can't/won't help me? Or he can't/won't help a physically handicapped person to overcome their inherent limitations because they themselves lack the ability to do so?
How do people even begin to belive this? God will do things for you, as long as you do it yourself. Don't you see how this can be applied to absolutely ANYTHING in place of "God" in the often-spoken, "God helps those who help themselves" lie?
I could even say SATAN helps me when I help myself, right?
2007-07-27 05:26:13 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yep, I agree. My pet rock helps me move household furniture as long as I don't wait for it to do it for me or expect any actual help from it. But then again, I know better than to depend on a rock to do anything but lend spiritual support, and even that's limited to the times I'm in need of medication or something that I can throw at something.
2007-07-27 05:31:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Great observation. Not a Christian teaching and nothing short of an old ladies Sunday School lesson. At best it could be called home spun philosophy. Next week it will be what goes around comes around, and how sweet it is, etc. add nausea.
Scripture says that God stepped into time for the express purpose of freeing those who were in a condition and place of bondage; that is unable to help themselves. While some are free of conditions by God's power; we yet remain limited by place as we learn to operate by faith.
Contending that God helps those who help themselves and repeating an affirmation of faith rank among the world's most redundant and useless religious activities. It takes a PhD, an LLD or being named a Catholic doctor of the church to really understand these things.
Be carefull, someone might want to raise your vibrational levels of understanding by lighting a fire under you.
2007-07-27 05:56:37 · answer #2 · answered by Tommy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes there is a god and all that but the churches don't want you to go it alone. If you want to there are some rules. Don't tell god what to do. If you ask don't ask for something only ask for approvals...like ''god is this correct?'' ''God should I do this?'' As long as the answer is 'yes' or 'no' you don't need a preacher. Now look at life as it is. You can't see god but you know that you have invisible grandfathers. The face of god is your ancestors right? It is so simple if you do it on your own. Well are you using familiar spirits ?? Of course. I do it. It works and I check to see if it works accurately . Like ''God did I lock the front door today?'' Yes or no... how simple can it get.
2007-07-27 05:58:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are taking this quite too literally. What I believe this means is that take for example you prayed to find a job. But, you are sitting at home, not filling out applications, not making a resume, not making phone calls. Actually, you are just watching t.v. all day and doing absolutely nothing to get a job. God is not going to snap His fingers and make a job fall at your feet. He will help you get a job, yes. But, you have to make some effort.
2007-07-27 05:49:30 · answer #4 · answered by biggestjesusfan, † Cat P.W. † 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible does not say that "God helps those that help themselves",Actually God is famous for helping those that Can't help themselves. And God may send someone to pull you from the wreck and help you overcome your limitations.
God works primarily thru people. He helps us overcome physical, emotional, and mental handicaps. If we cannot overcome them, He still makes our lives worthwhile and meaningful in spite of any handicap.
2007-07-27 05:59:04 · answer #5 · answered by Prof Fruitcake 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is our Father. We are his children.
As parents, if we did everything for our children and got them out of every single jam they got into without any effort on their part, they would grow up to be dependent, unreliable, selfish, incapable and unaware of how actions result in consequences.
But as we all know, we teach, help, encourage, sometimes watch them stumble and fall, and do the best we can to help them grow into becoming the best that they can be. As imperfect as we are, God does much better.
2007-07-27 05:33:23 · answer #6 · answered by Someone who cares 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if i do something all on my own nobody else gets the credit!! lol. but seriously if that is all god is... then i am disappointed. i just thought there was more. i would be in favor of believing that everything i do, is what i do, and what god does, must be beyond what i can do right?? like parting the red sea right?? but you would think god would want credit for the big things no one else can do but okay, well, if thats god then, they really do talk to the wind and everything they do is by their own power no matter what they believe.
2007-07-27 06:14:15 · answer #7 · answered by philosopher 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The message of the bible is that God is our strength, and to put our trust in our own self is to be cursed.
Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
2007-07-27 05:39:28 · answer #8 · answered by hisgloryisgreat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
where in scripture does it say God helps those who help themselves- it doesn't!!
When we get to a place we realize that we can come to Him with open arms, because we realize that we cannot live this life without Him. God has helps us when we come to the end of ourselves.
2007-07-27 05:35:42 · answer #9 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
...consider reading Proverbs, Chapter 3 vs. 5 & 6... then, on the day you step into Eternity (and you will...no one has ever left this Earth alive...well, there was "one"...but you wouldn't understand yet). Ask the first "One" you meet...(Spiritually speaking)... He'll have all the answers for your questions...
2007-07-27 05:33:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋