The Myth Buster: God only helps those who help themselves

Pastor Burcham's Sermon

  Sunday, July 17, 2005

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

We've been doing some myth busting around here and, if you've ever watched the show The Myth Busters on the Discovery Channel, you know Jamie and Adam not only scientifically prove whether it's a myth or whether it's a true statement, but they always try it out. They always do something to sort of show whether it's true or it's false. We haven't done that yet in our myth busting so this morning I thought we'd stop that and, a little bit later on, thus the stuff that's out here, we're going to actually put to the test. Does God Just Help Those Who Help Themselves? But that's for a little bit later on.

We're going to deal with the conception today that God helps those who help themselves. I don't know about you, but I like the sound of that statement. There's just something that just rings true about this one for me. When I read that, God Helps Those Who Help Themselves, it strikes a favorable cord with me and it sounds downright American, doesn't it? It makes you proud. Those who help themselves, those who are able to pull themselves up from their bootstraps, those who are willing to put forth the effort, give it that extra gun ho, and if we're willing to do our part, God is willing to do His part. I like the sound of this one. God helps those who help themselves.

Given our culture, given our work ethic, especially in the Midwest , we have a solid belief that if you put in a good solid day's worth of work, you get rewarded for that and if you don't work, well then you're not rewarded. This one just sounds right to me. But whether it sounds right or not isn't enough. We have to dig in a little bit deeper. We have to find out if this is a true statement. God helps those who help themselves. Or is it yet another myth that needs to be busted?

Let's take a closer look at the whole concept, God helps those who help themselves. What are we really saying there? As I thought about that, I really think it's based upon the whole work ethic we have as Americans and I think especially here in the Midwest . You think about the Midwest , we have a strong work ethic, do we not? That's why companies want to place their headquarters here because of the strong work ethic we have in the Midwest . We don't just laze around. We don't expect things to be handed over to us on a silver platter. No. Our idea is, if you want something, you go after it and you work hard. And it's really a part of every aspect of our life from the youngest of ages until we retire, really this whole idea of a work ethic that you get what you deserve, that if you work hard, you're rewarded, if you don't work hard, then you get punished or you don't get rewarded.

Think about school. When you go to school, isn't there a strong work ethic that's going on there? The work ethic says you need to study. You need to pay attention in class, you need to study for the exam, you need to do your homework and, therefore, when the test finally comes, then you prove to the teacher you have done your work and you answer the questions correctly. You get credit for the good answers and you get marked off if you have wrong answers. But haven't you ever taken a test that even if you had the wrong answer, if you showed your work, you got partial credit? In other words, if you tried, if you at least made an effort. I learned that early on. I don't know about you, but I found out I never, ever left anything blank on a test. No, I don't care how ridiculous it was, no matter if I didn't have a clue what the answer was, I wrote something down. “Well, 6=2n squared,” and this was Geography. But, you never know, the teacher might give partial credit because at least I tried. I made an effort.

It spills over into work life, doesn't it? It spills over to your career. If you try hard, you put in some extra hours, when it comes to review time, what does the boss look at? What are the goals you set out for this year? Did you meet those goals? Now if you met those goals, great. If you exceeded those goals, even better. If you didn't meet the goals, did you try? Did you put forth an effort? And are there extenuating circumstances of why you didn't meet those goals? And depending upon the answers to those questions probably determines your rate, probably determines whether you get a promotion or not. I'm not arguing with any of this, by the way. This is something which is a strong work ethic we have in the Midwest , and I believe we know how to work hard. I believe we know how to put in a solid day's worth of work, and I also believe we get rewarded from that.

But it spills over into other aspects of our life. Doesn't it spill over even socially into our life? We're generous people. We will help somebody out if they have a need. If somebody doesn't have a job, they need food, they need clothes, maybe they need a little bit of money, we're more than willing to give that to them. But what stipulation do we usually put on that? Are they looking for a job? “Well, maybe I'll go ahead and give you the money but why don't you do a small job around here so at least you put forth some part of an effort.” Don't we get just a little bit irritated and maybe even set up on our high horse and say, “Now what is wrong with the welfare system here? They're just handing out checks and they're absolutely demanding nothing of these people. Shouldn't they at least put forth an effort? Shouldn't they at least try to do something?” Now again I don't want to get on a debate of whether this is right or wrong, but that's part of our culture. We expect people to put forth an effort for them to at least try and then we'll go ahead and help them out.

Does that cross over into our relationship with God? Should it cross over into our relationship with God? In other words, God is going to help you out as long as you're willing to put forth an effort. God is going to help you out as long as you're ready and willing to do your part. God's going to do His part. You're going to do your part. God's going to help those who help themselves. But the implication is that God is not going to help those who will not help themselves, those who will not put forth an effort, those who will not try.

You know, we even have biblical support for this one. 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “If a man will not work, he will not eat.” There it is in scripture. If a person is not willing to work, if they're not willing to put forth an effort, then they don't get a pay and they don't get food. We have biblical support for this. God expects us to do our part, to pull our weight, and then, once that happens, then God's going to go ahead and step in. God's going to help us out.

If a man will not work, he will not eat. So if God's going to help us out with the struggles we have in this life as long as we're willing to put forth an effort, we're going to go ahead and try and do the best we can, wouldn't it make sense then that it spills over into other aspects of our relationship with God? So as long as we're trying really hard, God is going to look favorably upon that? Have you ever heard somebody say or maybe have even said to yourself, “You know, I realize I am not perfect but I have to tell you I am trying very hard to be the best Christian possible. I am trying very hard to be faithful to God. I know I'm not always but, after all, I'm only human. And what else could God expect? If I'm trying, if I'm putting forth an effort, then shouldn't God look favorably upon that and then God go ahead and step in?”

Have you ever heard somebody say or have you even said, “Well, I'm not perfect, Lord knows that. But as I look around me, there are a whole lot of people way worse than I am. I look at some of the things people are doing, and I'm just ashamed to even know human beings would do such a thing. Certainly, I would never do something like that.” Certainly, God then must look more favorably on you than when He does the other person. If you're putting forth an effort, I mean if you're trying real hard, if you're giving it everything you have to live for God and to be obedient to God, then certainly God must look more favorably at you then He does someone else because God helps those who help themselves. You do your part, you pull your weight, and then God will do His part. That's really what's behind the concept of God helps those who help themselves. But is it true? Is this perception of God accurate and true?

Let's put it to the test. The first thing we have to do, though, is we have to ask some pretty important questions. The important questions are these: How much effort is enough? If God helps those who help themselves, how much do we have to help ourselves before it kicks in that God steps in? How much effort do we need to put into it before God says, “Yep, you're on track. I'm going to be with you.”

So let's say you lose your job. Terrible thing. Lose your job. You don't know what you're going to do. Now at what point will God come in and help you with that? Is it enough, for instance, to go home this afternoon and take a look at the want ads? You put forth an effort. God looks down and says, “Good job.” He steps in and gives you some help. Or is that really not all that much, if you think about it, looking at the want ads. Maybe it's you looking at the want ads and you fill out an application or two. So you've looked at the want ads. You put in an application. Now God says, “You're really trucking now. You are really trying. I'm going to step in and help you.” Or maybe God says, “You know, I think you could do more.” Maybe you look at the want ads and you fill out the application and also you talk to a headhunter. And you've got him working for you. Certainly, now God is going to say, “You're doing everything possible. I'm going to step in and help.”

At what point have you done enough? And how do you answer that question? If we ask that question in dealing with just life in general, losing jobs, don't we have to also ask that question about our spiritual relationship with God? How much effort do we need to give it before God says, “Okay, that was a good enough try.” How much does God want us to do before God finally says, “Okay, that's enough. Come on home. I'll do the rest.” At what point have we tried hard enough to follow God's will? At what point have we resisted temptation enough? At what point have we done enough good things that God looks down more favorably upon us? Where's the threshold where we cross over from “No, God's not going to do anything” to “Yeah, God's going to do everything for us.” Well, this time, scripture answers that question for us. It leaves no doubt. God says, “If you want me to look at what you do and the effort you put in towards our spiritual relationship, that is, your eternity, then,” God says, “I can answer that.” And He does in Matthew 5. He says, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” It's a simple, straightforward answer. If you want to know how much is enough, how much effort do you have to give it before God says, “Okay, you're my man, you're my woman. Everything's all set,” God says, “Be perfect.” He says, “Don't tell me about how good you've been. No, tell me you've been perfect. Don't tell me about how bad everyone else is. Tell me you've been perfect.” That's what God asks of us. If God's going to help those who help themselves, then perfection is the threshold. That's why He says to us in Romans 3:23-24, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” There's not one of us who is perfect. There's not one of us who can measure up. There's not one of us who could put forth enough effort in which God is going to look favorably upon us. And that's why He says, “And are justified freely.” We're justified freely by God. It's not about how much effort we put in. It's not about how hard we try. It's all about what God has done, and it's all about the gifts He's given to us. God says you're supposed to be perfect. We're not. God says, “I'll make you perfect.” God says, “I'll declare you perfect.” God says, “I will give you the gift of my Son.”

Scripture tells us while we were still sinners, Christ Jesus died for us. While we were still lost, we weren't even asking for help, we didn't even know we were in trouble, while we were still sinners, Christ Jesus died for us. Before we could even have an inclination to look to God to rescue us, God was rescuing us. God was sending His Son into the world. Jesus was laying down His life, taking upon Himself the punishment for all of mankind so you could be declared perfect, so God could look at you and see you were sinless. It has absolutely nothing to do with us. And that rubs us wrong, doesn't it, let's be honest. We have a solid work ethic. What do you mean I can't do anything? But when you start asking the question how much, what do I need to do, and the answer comes back nothing and there is no doubt, not even a hint of a doubt as far as your forgiveness and your salvation, that's what God's Word says, that's what the assurance is. This is something God has done for us and not anything we've done for ourselves.

To say God helps those who help themselves is a myth, and it's a myth that needs to be busted because of the implications it has to it, the implication that somehow we have to do our part and God does His part. You know what, God does His part, period, because God does everything. And God helps all people whether they deserve it or not, whether they need it or not, whether they ask for it or not, God is there helping them, assisting them. In fact, if you look at it, God provides for all people. God's love is not contingent upon what we do or what we don't do. Matthew 5 says this, “He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good and the rain to fall on the righteous and the unrighteous.” If you think about it, every human being is dependent upon God and His gifts to us. And God doing stuff for us with us not even asking. The air we breathe, the food, the water, the clothing, all of that. If it were not for God, we wouldn't have any of that. It's all what God does for us. It's not about what we do for God. It's not about how hard we try. It's not about us doing our part and God doing His part. God does it all.

That's why St. Paul in the second letter to Corinthians, we read it a few moments ago, but he leaves no doubt about it, says, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay.” Jars of clay, in other words, jars that are very fragile. They're really not worth anything but yet it's what's inside the jar that matters. Why does he put it this way? He says, “To show this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.” The all surpassing power is from God, not from us. It's what God has done in us, not what we've done.

Alright. Let's do some myth busting here. You can tell I have two clay pots here and I have a hammer. These clay pots, though, came from the hearth in front of our fireplace and I would like to be able to go home for lunch today, so I'm not going to be using this hammer on these clay pots. Just wanted to make that clear. Instead, what we're going to do here is we're going to take a look at two eggs. Now if you look at the eggs, they look identical, do they not? There's really nothing different about these eggs on the outside. The shells are exactly the same. That's assuming they came from the same chicken but, generally speaking, these are the same. But one of them is different because one of them has been changed on the inside. One of them has been hard boiled. Let's put what St. Paul says to the test. What St. Paul says is we are hard pressed on every side. So let's take a look at this and say this is the world and the world is around us. Hard pressed on every side. What does he mean by that? What he means by that is that things happen to us in this world. Maybe we lose our spouse. Maybe we lose our job. Maybe we don't get accepted into the college we want. Maybe there is all kinds of pressure at work and, unless we work 80 hours a week, we're going to lose our job. So the pressure comes and comes and comes and comes. You know what, I didn't press very hard. It's crushed. It's gone. But St. Paul says, “We are hard pressed on every side but we are not crushed.” It cracked, but it's not destroyed.

You and I deal with lots of pressures in this world and there is no doubt about it. We deal with losses of jobs. We deal with loss of people we love. We deal with relationships that end. We deal with disappointments. We deal with bankruptcy. The list can go on and on with things we have to deal with. We deal with things as a Christian. People treat us differently because of our faith. Maybe we don't get the promotions we want because of that. We're hard pressed on all sides. St. Paul says, “We're perplexed but we're not in despair.” He says, “We're thrown down, but we're not destroyed.” You see, I could put all the pressure I want on this and I'm not going to destroy this egg. It's not going to just crumble in my hand and we have a mess on the carpet. Why? Because of what's happened on the inside. It doesn't mean this little egg tried harder than the other little egg. It means the inside of this egg has been changed, and you can change.

That's what the gospel is all about. God has changed your heart. God has convinced you that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. God has given you this all surpassing power inside of you. That's what makes the difference. It's not about you. It's not about me. And it's not about all the effort we put into it. It's about everything God has done for us.

So we may be hard pressed, but we're not crushed. Amen.

Copyright 2005 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church