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"God helps those who help themselves." It’s a motto for self-reliance, sounds like it’s straight from the book of Proverbs, and is one of the most widely believed "Bible verses" in the world. There's just one problem: it's not in the Bible.
In fact, this popular saying—popularized by Benjamin Franklin, not an apostle—stands in direct opposition to the core message of the gospel. In this sermon from our series, "Did the Bible Really Say That?", we dismantle this pervasive myth to uncover the radical, counter-cultural truth of how God really helps His people.
What You'll Discover in This Message:
This message contrasts the world's gospel of self-sufficiency with the Bible's gospel of divine grace and community. We will explore key scriptures that tear down the idol of self-reliance and build up a biblical vision of dependence on God and interdependence on each other.
Key Themes Explored:
• The Myth of Self-Reliance vs. The Mandate for Community (Galatians 6:1-6): The world says, "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps." The Bible says, "Bear one another's burdens." We explore how the primary way God helps us is through the hands and feet of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
• The Gospel of Grace, Not Grit (Matthew 7:7-14): The popular phrase suggests God's help is a reward for our efforts. Jesus teaches the opposite. His command is to "Ask, Seek, Knock," revealing that God's help is a gift for the dependent, not a prize for the self-sufficient.
• An Outward Love, Not an Inward Focus (Mark 12:30-31 & John 13:31-35): The two greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbor. Jesus' "new commandment" is to love one another as He has loved us. The entire focus of the Christian life is outward, demolishing the self-centered foundation of "helping yourself."
• God's Heart for the Helpless (Proverbs 19:16-17): The Bible's economy is upside-down. It doesn't say, "God blesses the self-made," but rather, "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD." God's heart is for the helpless, and He calls us to be His hands to help them.
• The Community's Role in Restoration (Matthew 18:15-20): Even when it comes to dealing with sin, the biblical model is not individual self-correction. It is a careful, loving process of community involvement, designed to restore the one who has fallen.
The Truth That Sets You Free
The idea that you must first "help yourself" to earn God's favor is a heavy burden that the gospel came to lift. The truth is, God helps those who can't help themselves. He came for the sick, not the healthy; the sinner, not the righteous. This message will free you from the pressure of self-reliance and invite you into the joy of depending on God and His people.
