God helps those who help themselves?

I've heard this term alot, and just had a pretty heated internet discussion about it just recently..."God helps those who help themselves". Our pastor actually discussed this yesterday at our service and confirmed that NOWHERE in the Bible does it say this phrase. You know where it came from? Benjamin Franklin...so I ask, do we take the word of a fallen human being, or do we trust in the word of God (the Bible)? I think I choose the Bible. If anything, the Bible states the exact opposite, God helps the helpless.

Isaiah 25:4 declares, "For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..." Romans 5:6 tells us, "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."

In terms of salvation, we are all utterly helpless. We are all infected by sin (Romans 3:23), and condemned as a result of that sin (Romans 6:23). Nothing we can do on our own can remedy this situation (Isaiah 64:6). Thankfully, God is the helper of the helpless. While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus paid the penalty that we were incapable of paying (2 Corinthians 5:21). God provided the "help" that we need precisely because we could not help ourselves.

I think especially when we're talking about recovery, it's important to remember that God loves and helps all of us. Alot of us choose not to believe or recognize it, but Jesus loves us and knows each and every one of us intimately. From day one He has provided all the things we may take for granted...our food, shelter, family, sunshine, and the list goes on and on.

We do have to make the choice to give our lives over to Jesus. We do have to fully submit ourselves to Him. We do have to surrender control. We can't do this on our own. We can't fix ourselves. Every human being on this earth is a fallen being, a broken being. Jesus is the only way to salvation. Jesus is the only way we will ever get into Heaven.

What we shouldn't do as Christians is fall into a pattern of inactivity because we believe God will just do all of our work for us. If we ask God to help us find a job, then we should be actively looking for a job. If we ask Him to help us stop abusing drugs and alcohol, then we should be actively trying to quit (find a recovery program, etc.). He's not just going to magically do all of the work for us.

As always, God Bless...