THE BIBLE DOESN'T SAY THAT: GOD HELPS THOSE THAT HELP THEMSELVES

Sermon Notes, February 3, 2019

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

Pastor Garry’s third sermon in “The Bible Doesn’t Say That” series was titled “God Helps Those that Help Themselves.”  His main scriptural source is Luke 18:9-14, where a Pharisee and a tax collector are praying in the Temple.

To clear up things we hear attributed to God, but that aren’t in the Bible, this particular saying comes from “Aesop’s Fables,” and was repeated by Benjamin Franklin in his “Poor Richard’s Almanac.”  It’s from a polytheistic tale about a wagon stuck in the mud, shared by a Deist Founding Father.  Many other faiths have something akin to earning one’s salvation,  and there’s a nugget of truth in all those lies.  The real truth is that God helps those who CAN’T help themselves.

In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus tells the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the Temple.  This story shows us a LIE and a TRUTH.  The lie is that self-help is the best help. (Verses 9-12)  The Pharisee at prayer says “I’m awesome.  I go beyond the requirements of fasting and tithing.”  In other words, “I earned it.”  His was a prayer in pride.  

The church today is plagued with this same pride.  Self-help is a multi-million dollar industry.  You can find all kinds of self-help books in any bookstore or library.  It promotes and reinforces self-interest and self-centeredness. In our culture there is a danger of self-reliance rather than God-reliance.  It leads to arrogance—remember Mohammed Ali?  “I am the greatest!”  The natural state of mankind is to think of ourselves as the center-of-the-universe.  Disagreements and fights are caused when two centers-of-the-universe collide.  Self-reliance makes you forget your need; small things grow.  Jeremiah 17:5 says “Cursed is the one who draws strength from mere flesh, whose heart turns away from God.”

The truth is that God helps the helpless.  (Luke 18:14) The tax collector prayed, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”  Jesus said this man went home justified before God.  He said that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

God expects us to work at living right.  We need to approach God in humility, as the tax collector did.  He made no empty promises—he had no merit of his own.  His plea to God was personal.  He bared his soul to God, begging for mercy.  There was a price to pay.

Jesus has done what we couldn’t do.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)  Charles Swindoll says that the greatest heresy is thinking what we do for God is what saves us.  David, in Psalm 94:17-19 says that unless the Lord had given him help, he would have dwelt in the silence of death.  God’s love supported him and His consolation brought him joy.  We need to admit, like David, that our help comes from God.

Truth’s call: We need to help God help others.  (Luke 9:12-14)  God justifies repentant sinners, not self-righteous saints.  God loves you enough not to leave you in your sin!