Twisting The Truth

The LORD is for me; I will not fear; 
What can man do to me?

The LORD is for me among those who help me; 
Therefore I will look [with satisfaction] on those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD 
Than to trust in man. 

Psalm 119:6-8

People have a habit of twisting the truth to fit their own 
preconceived notions.

Here are a few examples for you.  Are they true or false?

“God helps those who help themselves.”

“Jesus came to help the sick and poor people”

“In order to get into heaven when we die, we should follow the example of Jesus”

Now you ... true or false? Yes or no?

Many would answer: YES to all three of these questions ... 
and many others would answer: NO.

What do you think?  


The fact is that our personal opinions are most likely stumbling blocks when trying to understand spiritual Truths. These are spiritual statements and we must look to God’s word for the answers.

Let’s consider:  “God helps those who help themselves.”

Well this is an interesting idea, but the context is a key issue here.

Context?  … What context, you might ask?

The context where this phrase is most often used is when someone who believes himself to be an achiever, and who is looking at someone else who is at a low point in his life and struggling ... the achiever concludes: apparently the second man is not willing to put his head down and from a human perspective, do what needs to be done … whatever it takes.  Those who don’t work; don’t eat … so the saying goes. Well beyond being prideful and judgmental, is this view true, biblically?  No, it is not consistent with what the New Testament teaches at all. Get off your duff and get a job. Not bad general advice, but it has no bearing on what God would do one way or the other. Only God can decide that.

The truth is that God helps those who trust in Him … and of course anyone else that He might choose to help. Jesus alone is God. Since we have no idea how He might decide on who fits into this second group; it is wise to trust in Jesus and Him alone.

Here is what Jesus teaches:

 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, [as to] what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, [as to] what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and [yet] your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? Mathew 6:25-26

Here is another:

When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, "This place is desolate and it is already quite late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." But He answered them, "You give them [something] to eat!"  Mark 6:34-44

Many would say this story is impossible ... so it must be an allegory. This fits in with their human logic. That is foolishness. If Jesus is the God who created all things,then feeding 5000 is clearly not a problem.

Jesus fed 5000 men, and this did not even include the women and children. Did these people do anything to deserve this miracle and his blessings? Did they receive the food because they somehow earned their supper? No, not at all. He provided for them without the people even asking. His disciples wanted them to go buy their own meal, but Christ had a different plan.

And  here is a third example that God and not men determines who he will reward and to what degree. Fairness and getting what you deserve is much different from God’s perspective.

  "When those [hired] first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. "When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, saying, 'These last men have worked [only] one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.' "But he answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?' "So the last shall be first, and the first last." Mathew 20:1-16

There are many more examples that illustrate this truth. 
You see the Bible is not so hard to understand if we don't read it with preconceived notions. Isn't that true? 

These scriptures don't need interpretation. 

And the scriptures become become much easier to understand when you read the whole chapter with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The meaning of God's Truth is quite clear.

Having said all of this, my “yes or no” answer to “God helps those who help themselves” is both Yes and No.  If you are drawing your conclusions from a natural or human perspective; the answer is: “YES.” And  if you consider this statement from a Spiritual perspective; the answer is both: “YES and NO”. God promises that he will provide for all who place their faith in him including those who do not help themselves. And He also provides for some others as well … for reasons that we will not likely ever understand.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER  DESERT  YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU, "so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"  Hebrews 13:5-6

God bless you my friends, Bob