An Old Saying

     I've recently run into this saying a few times recently: "God helps those who help themselves." The quote is from Benjamin Franklin (not the Bible, as many people would believe). I want to examine this, both in the state it is given and how it can or cannot be applied Biblically.
     My first thought is to look at what it implies, and it's self-explanatory. But something a lot of people take for granted is assumed to be implied: that God only helps those that helps themselves. I have two responses to this. The first is simple: the word only is nowhere to be found in this saying, thus nullifying the idea. If Mr. Franklin wanted to say that, I'm sure he would have put it in. The second idea is that it's not something that applies at all times in every situation. I think that the driving idea behind this is that if you are able to help yourself you really have no right to demand that God help you.
     Let's say that the only was in there. What does that imply? It implies that only those who are able to help themselves will get help from God. That doesn't make much sense, does it? Secondly, there are at least several instances in scripture where it talks about God helping the helpless, either directly or through the body of Christ, the Church.
     As Paul says to the Corinthians, the Lord Jesus spoke to Him on this subject. He said "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." What does that mean, though? What Jesus was telling Him, though there may have been other things, is that when we are helpless HIS strength is made perfect. There is no logical argument from there, then, except that He must be helping us. This directly refutes the idea, then, of God not helping those who are helpless. He helps the helpless so that His name may be glorified.