Thread: God helps those who help themselves -- does it really work that way??
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God helps those who help themselves -- does it really work that way??
Posted : 18 Feb, 2021 07:40 AM
the saying "God helps those who help themselves" comes to us by various roots and across millennia. One of its earliest known expressions is from the Aesopian fable, "Hercules and the Wagoneer." Here is the text of that brief fable......
A WAGGONER was once driving a heavy load along a very muddy way. At last 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 Waggoner threw down his whip, and knelt down and prayed to Hercules the Strong. "O Hercules, help me in this my hour of distress," quoth he. But Hercules appeared to him, and said:
"Tut, man, don't sprawl there. Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel.
"THE GODS HELP THEM THAT HELP THEMSELVES."
Aesop lived from about 620-564 BC. A more contemporary provenance and one which matches the common wording identically comes to us by way of Benjamin Franklin (Poor Richard's Almanac, 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.
God helps those who help themselves -- does it really work that way??
Posted : 19 Feb, 2021 04:05 PM
rsvp, Romans 5:6, 8 that you posted is great in telling readers that initial salvation comes thru the sacrifice of Christ (The Father's sent WORD now in flesh) for sinners, while they were YET sinners, to those then that believe and repent (turn away from sinning)! BUT what does Jeremiah 17:5 have to do with helping readers understand the ongoing sinless sanctification process after initial salvation from >>>PAST<<< sins??? Sure Proverbs 28:26 hints at 'works' of born again Christians ('who walks wisely') but you could of been so much clearer in better verses???
Readers could of just as well as 'fell off of the titanic' in looking over the railings, into the depths of the DEEP waters trying to understand the FULL gospel message of what its like to be born again thanks to you!?
So in a GOOD way, a TRUE Christian understands 'God helps those who help themselves' because those being sanctified daily by their choices are wanting to participate in that heavenly relationship that has to take place in order to continue to be saved and YES it -- 'does really work that way'!
God helps those who help themselves -- does it really work that way??
Posted : 19 Feb, 2021 05:12 PM
You speak of reading the Bible moon??? Can you read??? Perhaps take an reading class?
In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads: Be ye therefore >PERFECT,< even as your. Father which is in heaven is >PERFECT.< ... as your Father in heaven is >PERFECT.<
Now Moon, would the Messiah LIE to us according to you?????
God helps those who help themselves -- does it really work that way??
Posted : 19 Feb, 2021 06:33 PM
Moon posts - 'We only perfect In Christ'
There you go Moon, you said it yourself, that those that are following Christ are 'perfect In Christ' because they are using the same POWER He used from His Father in heaven when he dwelled in the SAME KIND of potential sinful flesh we live in, yet He CHOSE no sin. Not only did he die for our past sins but gave us another chance by EXAMPLE IN THE SAME KIND FLESH to live a sin free life in but ONLY by the SAME POWER (not our own!) the Messiah had from His Father while he lived in weakened human flesh! You either believe the Bible or you do not Moon! You have no excuse now Moon!!!
So who is greater in you Moon, your continual sins, or the Father???
1 John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and >>>have overcome them: because greater is He (YHWH) that is in you, than he (satan) that is in the world.'
What happens to those living when the Father returns for His people (saints)? Will they be sinning (filthy/unrighteous) or not sinning (holy/righteous)?
Revelation 22:11 'He/She that is unjust, let him/her be unjust still: and he/she which is filthy, let him/her be filthy still: and >>>he/she that is righteous, let him/her be righteous still: and he/she that is holy, let him/her be holy still.'<<<
Sure Proverbs 28:26 hints at 'works' of born again Christians ('who walks wisely') but you could of been so much clearer in better verses??? 
