This is another false saying, not found in the Bible, that really exemplifies the pride of man, rather than a Christian perspective. God gives help to those who confess they need help, not to those who think they can help themselves.

…for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.1 Peter 5:5 (KJV)

The following excerpt found on the web suffices to finish the explanation: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves?  This saying is usually attributed to Ben Franklin, quoted in Poor Richard’s Almanac in 1757. In actuality, it originated from Algernon Sydney in 1698 in an article titled Discourses Concerning Government. Whatever the original source of this saying, the Bible teaches the opposite. God helps the helpless! Isaiah 25:4 declares,

“For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat…”

Romans 5:6 tells us,

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

In terms of salvation, we are all utterly helpless. We are all infected by sin (Romans 3:23), and condemned as a result of that sin (Romans 6:23). Nothing we can do on our own can remedy this situation (Isaiah 64:6). Thankfully, God is the helper of the helpless. While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus paid the penalty that we were incapable of paying (2 Corinthians 5:21). God provided the “help” that we need precisely because we could not help ourselves.

Jesus clearly tells us that we are totally dependent on Him for help to live a godly life:

John 15: 5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.