Living Hand to Mouth

You've probably heard the expression "God helps those who help themselves..." at least once in your life. Evangelical Christians are usually quick to retort with "...but you can't find that in the Bible!" They are correct... in that they are usually defending the biblical truth of justification. That is, being judicially absolved from our wrongdoing through Christ's substitutionary payment.

An interview with Thomas Sowell, a well-known independent-thinking economist, got me to consider this. He made a statement regarding social welfare funded by taxation. His comment was, "Why should I be required to provide for others what they are unwilling to provide for themselves." Sowell is big on personal responsibility -- and so is the Bible.

There is ample biblical support for both the cliche phrase ("God helps those...") and Mr. Sowell's comment -- speaking in terms of practical, everyday living.

First, I think of two Proverbs:

19:24. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

26:15. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.

Next, Paul speaking to the Thessalonians (2 Thess. 3):

10. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

12. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.

There are some who would use the Bible as an escape from responsibility. Truth is, on balance, it helps us face responsibility head-on. If we were all more responsible, wouldn't the world be a better place?