God Helps Those Who Help Themselves: The Humanism Motto

"God helps those who help themselves."

A common thought in today's society that justifies Humanism. 

"an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems."

You're doing ____ to make yourself feel good.  (Insert your own word here.)

You're running a 5K to make yourself feel good.

You're eating healthy (or junk food) to make yourself feel good.

You're only having one child so you have enough money to get the things you really want so you feel good.

You're having sex with a, b, and c so you feel good.

You're looking at smut so you can feel good.

You're swearing, drinking, watching, doing, using so you can feel good.

God is giving you x, y and z so you can feel good.

Helping yourself and because you're using your resources, God will help you along the way.  He wants you to help yourself and use the tools He has given you.

NOW, take all the above and check your resources again.  Since, you know, God wants you to use those resources.  If you feel inclined to do so, check your reference books, mainly check your Bible.

Ok, let's look up the above verse "God helps those who help themselves."  Hezekiah 6:1

Hezekiah was a king after the time ruled by the Judges.  He came along after David and swayed this way and that as far as him fearfully ruling with God in mind.  He did live longer after Isaiah spoke with him and God.  It was written that some of the great things he did was to bring water and pools into Judah.  2 Kings 20-21

The book of Hezekiah sounds plausible, but, in fact, it is not a book in the Bible and there is no mention of Humanism throughout the Word as being an acceptable way to go in order to get to the Kingdom of God.  Humanism may even be considered a form of idolatry. 

Proverbs 28:26 "He who trusts in himself is a fool."
Jeremiah 17: 5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD."

Wikipedia gives us where this came from: "The phrase 'God helps those who help themselves' is a popular motto that emphasizes the importance of self-initiative and humanistic philosophy."

Some people say it is misquoted from Paul who says,  "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

Wouldn't common sense say to take care of yourself?  Without proper food, clothing, shelter, and rest don't we wither and die?  God doesn't want us to die when have been commissioned to go throughout the world to spread the good news.

With all that said, I will not fall prey to modern versions of what the Bible should say or what people think Jesus would do in the twenty-first century.  God is timeless, and so is Jesus.  Unchanging.  They are not surprised at the progressive nature of the world today and they even knew it would happen before it did.  God even knows what I will write next before I write it.  God even knew of the typo that I just fixed.  So, the Bible, although started 6,000 plus years ago, has always been and always will be the moral compass that we have founded rules, laws and morals on.  Morals are never aged nor old-fashioned.  They are timeless just like the one who created them.

God does help people by giving them the free will to choose to follow His law and to believe in His truth of the cross.  I think I will help myself to some more of His Word.