Most people say this is from the Bible. Is it? Or is it a 'trick question'? 10 points for the first correct answer.
Just thought I'd challenge you a little. :-)
2007-10-06 19:18:17 · 14 answers · asked by witnessnbr1 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Julien, good(and correct)answer.
KL, so very true. Too bad I can't give you 10 points too.
2007-10-06 19:25:52 · update #1
Those of you who say it is in the bible or Quran, please give the specific scripture reference.
2007-10-06 19:37:17 · update #2
Ben Franklin said it first.
Edit: Oh my god. Cadisneygirl: You did not just rip off my religion and claim your prophet said it, did you?
Quote: Lao Tzu "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
He said that long before Jesus was even born.
Cadisney. I challenge you to find that parable in the Bible. I want to see if Christianity did rip off Taoism.
2007-10-06 19:20:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
This is actually a quote from Ben Franklin and it appeared in Poor Richard's Almanac in 1757. In many instances 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." However, in II Thessalonians 3:10 the Apostle Paul writes "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." So living a Christ-like life is not a free ride.
2007-10-06 19:24:30 · answer #2 · answered by Jim B 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The saying, "God helps those who help themselves," came to us by way of Benjamin Franklin (1736). Franklin himself was a deist and so he believed that God did not play an active role in men's lives. In his point of view if man was not able to help himself, then man was hopeless.
The Bible teaches something entirely different than the above saying, because God makes special provision to help the helpless.
Romans 5:6, 8
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly....But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Proverbs 28:26
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
Jeremiah 17:5
Thus says the LORD,
"Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the LORD.
This is all from the following great link:
"Sayings Not found in the Bible"
http://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/sayings.html#helps
2007-10-06 19:59:08 · answer #3 · answered by Moe Hawk 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Apparently Ben Franklin said it.....yet, It is one of the Proverbs omitted due to the emphasis of self-reliance.....oh how this quote, had it been in the bible would've helped a lot of people.
Not to go against Christian teaching, but why give to the bum a hundred dollars when he/she would spend it on drugs or alcohol. Only those who can do something constructive yet need a little push to get started need it.
2007-10-06 19:27:59 · answer #4 · answered by elguapo_marco_2008@sbcglobal.net 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not in the Bible, I believe Ben Franklin coined it. Whoever believes that God does help those who help themselves, do not understand the concept of who God is. We need to admit that we need Him to guide and direct- what the bible says is that God helps those who acknowledge a need for God.
2007-10-06 19:36:21 · answer #5 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A) Ben Franklin.
B) So sad that this has become accepted. The truth is the God helps those who acknowledge in humility that they are helpless and need a savior!
2007-10-06 19:21:32 · answer #6 · answered by KL 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cadinsey, I am a conservative, evangelical Christian and I'm shaking my head at you.
Jesus DID NOT tell a parable about teaching a man to fish, though this is a common refrain among missionaries.
2007-10-06 19:44:04 · answer #7 · answered by Wiseacre 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure who first coined the phrase but I think a lot of people use the story of Jesus teaching a man how to fish as an example of this concept. Instead of just giving him food he taught him how to fish so that he would always be able to feed himself.
Julien, it is a parable in the Bible, chill out. If a philosophy is wise and correct then dont you think many people will believe in it and teach it. The asker of this question mentions how many people think this is in the bible. I was giving an example of why they might believe in this biblically. You seriously seem to have ownership issues.
thumbs down for talking about a parable in the Bible in relations to this question. What is wrong with some of you people?
Witness I tried to give an example of it in the Bible and got accused of plagerism.
2007-10-06 19:20:50 · answer #8 · answered by cadisneygirl 7 · 0⤊ 6⤋
It's mentioned in the Quran.
2007-10-06 19:28:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My mother, my dad, my grandmother and all my teachers.
I have said it to my kids a dozen times and have never given it a thought, until now.
I want to know who said it too.
Good question.
2007-10-06 19:25:22 · answer #10 · answered by DeeJay 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋