Psalm 41: God Helps Those Who Help Someone Else

We've all heard the old adage, "God helps those who help themselves."  These familiar words are mistakenly attributed to Scripture.  What the Bible, particularly Psalm 41, tells us is more interesting: God helps those who help someone else, particularly those in need.  There's nothing in here about self-reliance.  Nor is there any suggestion that God helps those who pray to him, offer sacrifices, memorize holy texts.  No, what gets God's attention is how much attention we pay to those without.  Addressing material want isn't a matter of charity; it's a core spiritual discipline, central to the life of faith.  Lent, a time of reflection and reorientation, is an excellent time for all of us to ask what we're doing to consider those among us who are most in need - and to then take action.

1Happy are they who consider the poor and needy!
the LORD will deliver them in the time of trouble.
2 The LORD preserves them and keeps them alive,
so that they may be happy in the land;
he does not hand them over to the will of their enemies.
3 The LORD sustains them on their sickbed
and ministers to them in their illness.
4 I said, "LORD, be merciful to me;
heal me, for I have sinned against you."
5 My enemies are saying wicked things about me:
"When will he die, and his name perish?"
6 Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words;
their heart collects false rumors;
they go outside and spread them.
7 All my enemies whisper together about me
and devise evil against me.
8 "A deadly thing," they say, "has fastened on him;
he has taken to his bed and will never get up again."
9 Even my best friend, whom I trusted,
who broke bread with me,
has lifted up his heel and turned against me.
10 But you, O LORD, be merciful to me and raise me up, *
and I shall repay them.
11 By this I know you are pleased with me,
that my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 In my integrity you hold me fast,
and shall set me before your face for ever.
13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel,
from age to age. Amen. Amen.

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