“God actually helps those who can’t help themselves.”

A thought by Kyle Idleman, (2015-10-01) from his book, The End of Me: Where Real Life in the Upside-Down Ways of Jesus Begins (Kindle Locations 1478-1479). David C. Cook. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

But you might say, “That’s not what the Bible says. It says, ‘God helps those who help themselves.’”

Kyle says, “It’s ingrained in our culture that we’re supposed to take care of business on our own, without seeking assistance. Maybe that’s why one of the most beloved of all Bible verses isn’t actually in the Bible. Yes, it’s this chestnut: ‘God helps those who help themselves.’ Just about everyone knows that one. People quote it, they love it, they try to live it, but it never crosses their mind that it can’t be found in Scripture.”

He goes on, “Maybe God forgot to put it in? I don’t think so. A better explanation explanation is that God actually helps those who can’t help themselves. God helps those who stop in the midst of crisis and ask someone to assist them. When we’re helpless and we know it, we’re open to receive the transforming help he wants to give us. When we come to the end of ourselves, we find him there waiting to give us what we have been so desperate for all along.”

I heard Chuck Milhuff say that the difference between us and Jesus was that Jesus was totally dependent upon God at all times. We are totally dependent on him when we get to the place that we can’t do anything and we then turn to God, as kind of a last resort. But he wants us to come to him at the start of each and very day.

Think of this. Kyle says, “The disciples had fished all night and caught nothing. Empty nets meant an empty paycheck, an empty dinner plate. The disciples had to admit they were helpless. They were expert, master-class fishermen with nothing to show for hours of exhausting work. Then Jesus came to them and told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. Soon the nets were bursting. Jesus tells us, Try it one more time— but this time in my power. It’s never too late.”

Maybe that is where you are today. Maybe you need to try it one more time but in his power.

Why don’t you ask him for help today?

Comments

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