Dear Claire:

The Deacon is correct. This phrase is not in Scripture and frankly expresses a notion that is unBiblical.

More important, this "verse" is unbiblical in its meaning. It is exactly the opposite of the message of scripture.

The phrase actually comes from Greek Mythology -- from one of Aesop's fables. There's a story about a wagoner and Hercules that runs like this:

"A Wagoner was once driving a heavy load along a very muddy way. He came to a part of the road where the wheels sank half-way into the mire, and the more the horses pulled, the deeper sank the wheels. So the Wagoner threw down his whip, and knelt down and prayed to Hercules the Strong. 'O Hercules, help me in this my hour of distress." But Hercules appeared to him, and said: 'Man, don't sprawl there. Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel. The gods help them that help themselves."

The saying "the gods help those that help themselves" eventually evolved to "God helps those who help themselves" and was repeated and passed on through the centuries.

So how does this saying compare to what the Bible teaches? It is very evident, especially in the Psalms that God places much value in learning patience, to wait on him to provide deliverance from our troubles, and answers for our prayers. The book of Psalms contains dozens and dozens of verses that advise us to be patience and wait upon the Lord.

The reason why there are so many verses about patience and waiting on the Lord is because it is our human nature to take matters into our own hands and try to make things happen on our own.

Of course this does not mean that we lie around as couch potatoes waiting for life to be handed to us on a silver platter. The Lord says "Occupy till I come...{Luke 19:13}" We carry on with our daily lives doing what needs to be done, working and paying the bills and so on. But there are many things that are simply beyond our human capacity to address, and for that we have to trust and wait on God to deliver us or keep his promises as he made them in his word.

It is our test not to take matters into our own hands in these situations, but to trust God to deliver us and care for us as only he can. The Bible says we learn patience through tribulations:

Romans 5:3-4 "And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope..."

Through these tribulations, the Scriptures provide us comfort:

Romans 15:4 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

So does God help those who help themselves? No, rather, God helps those who place their faith and trust in him. Amen!

Jer 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."

Prov 28:26 "He who trusts in himself is a fool..."

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary