Aside written laws emanating from the Bible, Quran, constitutions and in some cases popular quotes by famous people, a lot of phrases have often dominated our communities over the years. Some dominate temporary, and some, most of which cannot be traced to anybody in particular, also dominate permanently. We will all agree that most of these quotes are sometimes controversial.
And it becomes increasingly controversial especially when there is a religious twist to it. Some of these quotes have been justified over time because they have been able to yield the expected results it preaches if practiced. And some of them have diminished over time because of the fruitless results it has yielded by those who practiced. Even though they sometimes yield the required results, the means to the attainment of the desired result may not necessarily be the ideal means. But just as Niccolo Machiavelli ones said “the end justifies the means” method is all that matters to the beneficiaries. Among some these permanently popular phrases which Christians and non-Christians alike often quote is “Heaven helps those who help themselves”, and I would like to add my input to it.
This phrase seeks to encourage people to get involved in their own problems. It is often mistaken as scriptural quote because of the God/heaven element in it. But t is originally attributed to a freemason, Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of America. On top of my head, I remember president Kuffour ones counseling N. P.P that “heaven helps those who helps themselves”. And many people hold extremely opposing views with regards to this phrase. But I just want to narrow it down to Christians and other believers. . .My main purpose for this article is to find out whether there is any truth in this phrase, Or whether it a phrase which when quoted, renders the quoter unreligious
Some Christians have criticized the expression as being contrary to the bible’s message of God’s grace. This belief is often backed by scriptures such as zech 4:6 “it is not by might or power…”, 1 sam 2:9 “by strength shall no man prevail”,” it is not of him that willeth nor runneth but God that showeth mercy”, all of which explains the supremacy of God over our human abilities. And aside atheist, I don’t think anyone regardless of his/her religious affiliation disagrees with the fact that God reigns supreme over all the earth. So to them, it is not about hard work but the grace of God. Which I also share.
Others have also suggested that, in a typical Ghanaian school setting for instance, you can pray as fervently as Elijah, study all the relevant course books throughout the globe, cover all relevant past questions from cover to cover and make a distinction after school, but if the theory of “whom you know” is not existent in your life, it will just be an exercise of futility. So rather than exerting much of your energy in churching and studying, you should rather channel it to activating some ‘links’ through student politics, dating ‘dadabiis’ and networking with colleagues from rich homes. As funny as it may seem, that theory is very potent. And to them, never mind the means, but mind the potency of the means. And that is how the “heaven helps those who helps themselves” apply to them. It is all about understanding the system and operating in it.
And I understand some of the views many have expressed, even though my drift is quite different. But do these scriptures admonish us to give up on our God given strengths? Or does it mean hard work is unnecessary if you are a born again Christian? And for the others is it the end that justifies the means? Let’s go
As sovereign as God is, he has bound himself by laws such that he has forbidden himself from forcing anyone to do anything against his/her will. So as free as salvation is, you can only be saved if you willingly accept Jesus as your Lord and personal saviour. And to me, if God says it’s not by mind and power, it teaches me that in as much as God has blessed us with some abilities and strengths, We are not trusting in them because it can fail us. A typical example is a very bright student who is tipped by everyone to get distinction, and during the final exam, he gets mad or sick. That is my understanding of that scripture. This means that if you get through exams successfully it is not by those abilities and intellect you may have, though you may have it, but God kept your brain from insanity. This applies to all the facets of life. God is always working to preserve his children.
If we flip it to the other side, God can also bless a student with a good health, sane mind and strength during exam. But apart from of a shadrach, meshack, Abednego miracle type of staying clean of burns in a flame of fire, if he hasn’t fed the mind with any information, he might be as strong as Sampson and very prayerful like Elijah, but with no information in the brain, finding something wrong to write on the paper will prove fruitless. Because Jesus believes in preparations, that is why he said he is going to prepare somewhere for us in heaven.
For those who have also decided to ignore hard work to activate “whom you know” only, you must rethink and realize that “whom you know” will take you, but without hard work, it’s just a matter of time and you will be on the downward again. In the bible, hard work is greatly encouraged and they can be found in scriptures such as col 3:23, prov 4:13, prov 12:24 among others.
Therefore, there must be a continual and congenial mixture of grace hard work. Because in the book of James 2:19-21, we are enlightened that faith alone without works is dead. So yes, we have faith but none of these variables stand alone. So indeed heaven helps those who help themselves but your works doesn’t help if you don’t activate God’s blessing to water and preserve your good works…..