“FAITH AND GOD’S FAVOR”

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Hebrews 11:6

If you missed the first few releases in this series, let me give you a quick heads-up. We have been discussing a popular statement, "God helps those who help themselves" and finding scriptural support. Spoiler alert: so far, we have found none.

In our previous blog, we noted that God is a strong refuge, a shelter that keeps us safe from the dangers of this rather hostile world. Now, it’s time for our fourth spiritual nugget.

God helps those who seek Him.

Today’s verse is a popular portion of the Bible. It is taken from what is known as “The Faith Chapter” in the Book of Hebrews. The passage lists several OT names that demonstrated faith in the midst of great challenges. The writer points out that faith is necessary to please God. In fact, without it, it would be impossible to please Him. In other words, faith is a must-have for anyone who wishes to receive God’s favor. He says that worshipers must believe that God exists and have a solid conviction that God is morally perfect and blesses those who seek Him earnestly.

God is concerned about us, but if we are to receive help from Him, we should have an attitude of humility and faith. The first barrier that needs to be taken down is unbelief. If we don’t believe in the existence of God, what’s the point of asking Him for help in the first place?

However, mere mental agreement that God is real is not enough. It’s one way to believe in the existence of God, but to put one’s absolute trust in Him is another. The substance of this verse is highlighted by the fact that God is knowable by evidence and logic. If we believe that God exists and cares about us, we must submit our lives to Him and trust that everything He does is for our ultimate good.

With that in mind, the statement, “God helps who help themselves” is inconsistent with what Hebrews declares. Our personal effort is not the cause of God’s help but God’s goodness accessed through faith and conviction. God doesn’t move His hands simply because He sees us trying hard, but He does help us when He sees us trusting in who He is and what He does.

Pursue the Savior today!