Maybe You Should Trying Helping Yourself
Heavy rains threatened to flood the small town, and the authorities asked the residents to evacuate.
Old Abe refused and sat on his front porch while his neighbors packed up. Abe’s friend Bill asked, “Why aren’t you packing, Abe? Didn’t you hear a flood is coming?”
Abe replied, “I have faith in God. He loves me and will protect me.”
Bill shook his head and left town.
The rain continued to fall, and the waters continued to rise, but Abe stayed on his porch, though the streets were flooded.
Sheriff Jones cam by Abe’s house in a boat and said to Abe, “You had better come with me! These waters are only going to get higher!”
Abe replied, “I have faith in God. He loves me and will protect me.”
The Sheriff shook his head and left.
The waters reached such a height that Abe was forced to sit on his roof. But a rescue helicopter came by, and one of the men said to Abe, “Let us throw down a rope, and you can climb up here to safety!”
And once again Abe replied, “I have faith in God. He loves me and will protect me.”
Thinking Abe insane, the helicopter left.
Eventually the waters rose and Abe drowned. When Abe faced his maker in Heaven, he asked of God, “Why did you forsake me, Lord? I had faith in you and your protection, but I drowned in the flood!”
And God replied, “I sent your friend Bill. I sent Sheriff Jones. I even sent that helicopter. But for some reason you refused all of my aid.”