Common sense adages, proverbs, or wise old sayings have been around forever. And the origin of many of them is unknown. We remember the words because they are striking, personal, and to the point.

Our grandparents and parents programmed them into our consciousness. And we find ourselves repeating and planting them as seeds for our children. Born out of life experiences, trials and errors, and the school of hard knocks, the sayings have value.

But do they correlate to Biblical truth?

“God helps those who help themselves” is one such wise quote.

Most people don’t have a problem believing this statement. And some, at one time, thought that the saying was a Biblical verse. So, it’s no surprise that “God helps those who help themselves Bible verse” is a Google-search option.

For those who don’t know, the saying isn’t in the Bible.

The Bible refers to an able-bodied person who can work but doesn’t as a sluggard. Proverbs 13:4 (KJV) says, “A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” In other words, a lazy person talks about what he or she wants. But a hard and diligent worker will labor and acquire his desires.

How does someone progress from laziness and talk to work and achievement? Help is needed.

There’s nothing wrong with the saying, God helps those who help themselves. The exception is when the adage is used to deny help to others.

We can say, “God helps those who help themselves.” But we should also add, “God helps and favors those who help others.”

The latter saying reminds me of the story of the Prophet Elijah and a poor widow. When the widow helped Elijah, she helped herself. If she had rejected Elijah, her fate might’ve been death. The story is found in 1 Kings 17.

To some, God helps those who help themselves may infer that those who don’t work shouldn’t expect help from others—not even God.

But what would happen to the poor, aged, sick, and disabled, who can’t help themselves? For whatever reason, they’re unable to take care of their needs. Who helps them?

I also believe the wise old saying that God helps those who help themselves.

But sometimes we are so consumed with helping ourselves and getting stuff that we forget to give and help others. In all of our getting, we should always remember to give.

The wise saying isn’t in the Bible, but the giving to others is spelled out in the Bible.

Proverbs 19:17 (KJV) says, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”
The New International Version (NIV) of Proverbs 19:17 states, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.”

We all help and pay ourselves, but when we help others, God pays and blesses us.

Remember, God repays those who help others.

We can rely on the Bible for the deeper and divine truths to live by.