Heaven Helps Those Who Get Off Their Butts

I know a lot of helpful people. If you are in trouble and need help, they are very willing, and able, to help you. If you don't have money for food, they can put in a word for you at the food bank or a church. If you lose your job, they can help you find a new one, and if that new job requires training, they will help you get that as well. There are even people who will help you find diapers for your baby. But there's a catch. Those who want help...have to ask for it.

"I need help." Those are some impossibly difficult words for some people to say, including myself. We find ourselves pretending that we don't need anything or anybody because that is safest. We hide behind our pride and claim that we "don't take charity". We can't trust that the person who gives us something won't want something in return. Sometimes this is the case, but most of the time the person is trying to be helpful and nothing else. No strings.

There are people out there, unfortunately, who do nothing. They sit there, while their children go hungry, while their electricity is cut off, while they freeze to death, waiting. Apparently, God is supposed to hand deliver any and all miraculous assistance directly to these people, with the prerequisite angelic trumpets and singing. Jesus himself is supposed to anticipate their needs and come down from the heavens and solve all their problems without these people making any effort at all. These people do not deserve help, in my opinion.

Heaven helps those who help themselves, the saying goes. If you aren't going to make any effort, why should God do it for you? And did you ever stop to think that God put all those helpful people on earth for a reason?

If your children are hungry, get off your backside and find food for them. If you don't have a job, get off your ass and go look for one. If you don't have any money for a few Christmas presents, or clothes, or heat, get off your butt, go out into the world, and say "I need help." You will be surprised at what happens, and I hope, grateful.