God helps them that help themselves?

[Josh]

God helps them that help themselves.

You've heard the quote.  You probably know it's not expressly found in the Bible. 

What are your opinions of it?  Does the sentiment have any merit?

[stevekimes]

First of all, it's interesting that if we look at the word "help" in the Bible, it is clear that God helps those who cannot help themselves.  God is there for the vulnerable, not the self-sufficient.

Second, it is known that Benjamin Franklin invented this phrase, but few know in what context it was made.  When Franklin was a young publisher in Philadelphia, the city was run by a majority Quaker council.  Others were also on the council, but from the beginning of the colony, Quakers made the majority of the decisions.  Quakers were pacifist, and so they did not want a standing militia.  Franklin and others wanted a militia to defend themselves in a moment's notice against the threat of the local Indians. Mind you, this fear was mostly in people's heads, but they would feel safer with a militia.  An election was held for the council, and the militia was one of the major points discussed in the election.  In that election, Franklin published a cartoon (the first political cartoon), which had Hercules (representing the Quaker council) praying for his broken wagon to be prepared.  Below that scene is the statement "God helps those who help themselves."  Franklin's point is that God won't deliver us from enemies unless we deliver ourselves.  

The result of this was that for the first time the council in Pennsylvania had a Quaker minority, and the majority voted for a militia.  Rather than see a breakdown in the government, every Quaker council member resigned.  They have always been involved politically, but from that point, the Quakers did so from a minority stance, preferring to speak prophetically to the government.

[Josh]

Wow. I got more of a history lesson than I ever expected out of this one (and being a history teacher, I of course love that

So, part of the reason I brought up this topic is that I was reflecting on how much a priority God seems to place on His church enacting, however feebly, His righteousness in the world.  There are all the time countless numbers of problematic situations in which God refuses to "snap his fingers" and solve, preferring instead to wait for His people to act.  Promising them power, but waiting for them to act nonetheless.

So, while  I agree with you about how clear Scripture is that God helps the most vulnerable and uses our weakness, it seems there is some truth in the idea that God helps those who help the kingdom.

[asaph]

"So, while I agree with you about how clear Scripture is that God helps the most vulnerable and uses our weakness, it seems there is some truth in the idea that God helps those who help the kingdom." Josh

Is there not a difference between the two in your statement? One is centered on self, if we help ourselves. The other is centered on Christ and the advancement of His kingdom.

If the principle is simply that Christ will give you the strength to plow your field but, He isn't going to plow it for you when you are fully capable, fine. God helps those who help themselves. Spiritually speaking, though, no one can help themselves, though it could be said God is not going to float a Bible into your hands to read it when you can pick it up yourself. I may be too weak to obey but, I can choose to pray. And even then the glimmer, the faint desire to do so comes from God.