God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

Have you heard this before? From my research, Benjamin Franklin is the author of this quote. It does not come from the Bible.
How about this one? Money is the root of all evil. I am sure you have heard that saying over and over.
The Seven Deadly Sins? How about that?
These are sayings, often attributed to the scripture, but look all you might, they are not there. Especially the one by Mr. Franklin.
God, through His Word, definitely teaches that man is dependent on Him for all things. This verse is a good example of the thinking that will get a Christian in trouble. Why? Because she or he will think they can do it all!
In case you were wondering:
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly....But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5: 6 and verse 8)
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26)

It is the love of money that is the root of all evil. (I Timothy 6:10)
While Proverbs 6:16-19 lists six sins that God hates, all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of the Lord (Romans 3:23 and 5:12). There is no seven deadly sins, all sins are deadly if we do not repent and obey the Lord.
Man loves to add, and take away , from God's Word. To add his bits of wisdom and folly. God, being the really, really smart one, has told us just the right amount of information. A "need to know" type of situation. What we need to know is how to be saved, how to be loved, how to live, and what is next in our lives.
The worst thing we have added is the so called "sinners prayer". Thanks to Charles Finney, from the 19th century, people have bowed their head and prayed, thinking that has saved them.
You must be aware of the sayings that we use. Many are good advice, and that is just what they are, good advice. Then there are some that are bad advice.
Stick to "look both ways before crossing the street" and don't add or remove from God's Word.
Until next time on my front porch.

$10 A Year

For fifty dollars, a young man recently received five years of imprisonment for holding up a pizza delivery man. After calling in a fake order, he waited for the delivery to be made, held up the delivery man and made off with just fifty dollars or ten dollars a year for this action.
So, in essence, this man valued his life to be about ten dollars a year. Just think, fifty dollars will just fill up a large car or truck with gasoline! It will just buy about two dinners at a medium priced restaurant. Not a good trade for five years of your life is it?
We could wonder all about why someone would risk so much for so little, but let us look at something else; "Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. "(Colossians 2:8)
We can find person after person letting their faith be robbed for just about the same amount.
The valuable treasure that God's has given us, we let men take away.
Look closely at this verse, notice Paul writes "philosophy", "vain deceit", "tradition of men", and "the world". Let's look at each one in more depth.
Philosophy is man's thinking about himself. This definition of philosophy illustrates very well the problem with philosophy. There are a lot of philosophers who have argued themselves out of a religious faith. Philosophy is a wonderful subject to study, but remember, it is man's thinking about himself.
Vain deceit just about defines itself. One problem with a person who is wrapped up in philosophy is there is a tendency to be "puffed up" and to think highly of one's self. This is where philosophy can draw you away from the Lord. The arrogance of self.
"I would become a Christian, but I can't cause of my father and mother." This is a common refrain from people who are studying to become a child of God. They realize that mom and dad weren't following God and so they resist. This young man or woman is so immersed in the traditions of men that they cannot see what God offers them. And not just religious traditions-which Jesus railed against so much-but all kinds of traditions.
Tradition is a great faith killer. We have always done it this way...and so we never move forward to be with Christ or closer to Christ.
Finally, there is the elements of the world. Many things of this earthly paradise can steer us away from the Gospel message. It is easier to hear the siren call of a physical life than it is to follow the Master. It is easier to blame God for your problems than to embrace Him for a solution. It is even easier to deny His existence than to live for Him. It is indeed dangerous to heed the elements of the world.
All of these things will rob you of your faith. So, watch out that you don't exchange your pearl of great price for ten dollars a year.