God helps those who help themselves

according to wikipedia, "The phrase "God helps those who help themselves" is a popular motto which emphasizes the importance of self-initiative". is this a Biblical principle? individual success can be a puzzling notion. how is that some people seem to naturally rise to the top and others seem to stay heavily weighted at the bottom -- like a boat anchor?

the "haves" verses the "have nots" have been pitted against each other since the beginning of time (Gen 4:3-8). this tension will never end and must be accepted as a fact of life. we will NEVER be all equal unless we are all, at some time, equally poor (Mark 14:7; Revelation 6:6).

how is it that one becomes successful? first, lets define success. like most words, there are more than one definition -- success has about 5 definitions. sadly, society conditioned us to use the first part of the second definition as the main defining factor: "the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like". for most of us, this version of the definition makes us believe that to be successful, we must have a great education, fantastic house, car, toys...money to burn. this mindset enables us to either not bother trying because the road looks too daunting or, on the completely opposite end of the spectrum, to only pursue riches (1 Timothy 6:10; Proverbs 28:20). 

lets focus on the first definition: "the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors." or worded differently "the accomplishment of an aim or purpose". a few real world examples -- my wife and i aim to raise our kids to follow the Lord with all of their heart, soul and mind (Proverbs 22:6; Matt 22:37) and as young adults, they commit their lives to doing the Lords will out of their love for what He has done for them. this would be a success. we aim to be debt free (Romans 13:8) and achieve it -- success. what would success look like in your own personal life? in your family? in your group of friends? you can be successful no matter what your education or income -- and likewise, you can be wealthy and educated, yet terribly unsuccessful.

we as Christians need to DO before we can GET. success does not just happen. this concept may bother some of my brothers and sisters in the Lord, but lets stick to the Biblical facts:

• fact: if a man does not work, he shall not eat -- 2 Thessalonians 3:10. self explanatory.
• fact: if you do not use the talents God gives you, He takes your talents away -- Matthew 25:14-30. what are you doing with the gifts He has given you? anything? what can you accomplish without a talent or skill? nothing! and that is what will mark your life if you dont use it because God will take it away and give it to someone who WILL use it.
• fact: God withholds blessings from those who do not put His kingdom FIRST -- Matthew 6:33. seek Kingdom first and THEN all added to you. write this verse down, take the word "then" and circle it, highlight it, underline it and circle it again -- its pretty important.
• fact: God withholds blessing from those who do not tithe -- Malachi 3:6-12. in Luke 6:38 -- the promise: you cant out give God; the curse: God will hold you to your own measurements. if you dont give God your (His, really) 10%, you will ALWAYS be broke. remember, it is all His anyway, all we have is just borrowed. we do not tithe because God needs our money to fund His kingdom (Psalm 50:10), but to actively demonstrate our trust that He is the provider for us (Philippians 4:19).
• fact: God punishes those who trust in sources other than God -- Jeremiah 2 (12-13 especially). did you grow impatient waiting on God and turn to the government to take care of your needs? are you relying in the Spring of Living Water or are you collecting the government's dirty, polluted, strings-attached water and putting it in broken containers? (hope your mixing that with a lot of Kool-Aid)
• fact: Jesus specifically says He is closer to those who do Gods will. (Mark 3:35)
• fact: you REAP what you SOW (Galatians 6:7)

lets turn this argument around 180 degrees: God DOES NOT help those who DO NOT help themselves. (i am not talking about the disabled, handicapped, widows, orphans and such -- we are commanded by Scripture to help those you cannot help themselves...this discussion is for the able bodied). is it true that God DOES NOT help those who DO NOT help themselves? if you have a family and are responsible to take care of them but instead you choose to stand outside and have "faith" that God will provide all your needs, ignore your bills and responsibilities, ignore the cries for help from your children, ignore the cries for help from your wife ...what will happen if we do nothing? NOTHING! THATS WHAT WILL HAPPEN! (Proverbs 6:6-8; 10:4; 12:24; 12:27; 13:4; 20:4; 21:25; 2 Thess 3:11-12; James 1:22; Proverbs 6:9-11; Matthew 25:25-27) the principles of faith only work in accordance to His will and purpose....and not doing anything violates about 15 thousand verses. namely no work, no eat (2 Thess. 3:10)-- worse than an unbeliever (I Timothy 5:8), etc -- no amount of "faith" can overcome Gods standards and commands. i should note that even if you do nothing, you still may, unfortunately, be able to "survive" through gov handouts -- which may seem like Gods "provision". but since we know that doing nothing is a violation of Scripture and we know that God will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7) nor shall God be tested (Luke 4:12), then where are those handouts really coming from? hmmm...  

but this discussion is about success and prosperity....not simply surviving, so lets move on.

so is it right to say God helps those who helps themselves? the Bible makes it clear that God reacts to our actions and thoughts. do you want true success in your life? want God to bless your efforts? FIRST STEP: act -- do something! SECOND STEP: God blesses and provides the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-8). our actions and non-actions have consequences that affect our daily lives. we need to be lined up with Scripture FIRST AND FOREMOST...we cannot say that we will put Biblical affairs in order AFTER we get on our feet securely -- FOOL! we get on our feet securely BY putting our Biblical affairs in order first -- not the other way around! we dont get financial control BEFORE we tithe -- FOOL! you get financial control BY tithing first. cant afford to give God 10%?? you cant afford to NOT give God your 10%!

yes, God's love for us is never failing -- He loved us first (I John 4:19) and our salvation cannot be earned (Ephesians 2:8-9), but if it was Gods goal for salvation to be the climax or our Christian walk, than we would be escorted to heaven the moment we get saved. but salvation is not the end...it is the beginning!

are you successful?