‘Trust in God, But Tie Up Your Camel’: A Proverb of Faith and Responsibility

There is a balance to be struck between self-help and divine assistance. (Biba Kayewich)

If you’re reading this, you likely don’t own a camel. A shout-out to any readers who do!

This very ancient proverb lends itself to humble reflection. It hits on the question of where faith ends and irresponsibility begins, which is fascinating to consider.

Most of us today may not struggle with these questions so much, as many people today, whether individuals of faith or not, just do things the way the rest of the world does and don’t expect there to be a significant divine hand at work in their daily affairs. Yet sometimes, faith can start to bleed over into the realm of negligence, and this line is a tricky question indeed.

These are the very things that “trust in God, but tie up your camel” addresses.

How Did We Get This Particular Saying?

“Trust in God, but tie up your camel” comes to us from—you guessed it—the ancient Arab world. Yet its wisdom has led to its being popularized in many languages and cultures over time.

What is your proverbial camel that needs tying up? Is it your vehicle? Your body? Your teeth? Your house? Your relationships? At the end of the day, everything needs to be “tied up,” so to speak—it needs to be looked after, stewarded, and kept safe. And isn’t that ultimately respectful to what the divine has created and given?

As to how the phrase made its way into English, that is difficult to trace. The earliest known reference to a similar proverb in English literature dates back to an 1834 poem by William Blacker, who records British statesman (then general) Oliver Cromwell as saying to his soldiers, “Put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry!” This has sometimes been shortened to “Trust in God and keep your powder dry,” or simply “Keep your powder dry” so that it could fire properly.

Cromwell made a point of recruiting God-fearing soldiers, but at the same time, he was meticulous about their discipline and training. This embodies the “Trust in God, but ...” maxim.

Another Debt to Ben Franklin

A similar and perhaps more popular version of this concept is “God helps those who help themselves.” One idea of this being: Do your part, and perhaps take initiative, and you may receive divine aid.

Here is an amusing Scottish epigram that illustrates the idea:

He was a burglar stout and strong, Who held, ‘It surely can’t be wrong, To open trunks and rifle shelves, For God helps those who help themselves.’

But when before the Court he came, And boldly rose to plead the same, The judge replied: ‘That’s very true; You’ve helped yourself—now God help you!’ Expressions of this idea varied before the 18th century. John Baret, in his work “An Alvearie” from 1580, states that “God doth help those in their affaires, which are industrious.” And clergyman George Herbert, in his “Jacula Prudentum” from 1640, advises, “Help thyself, and God will help thee.”

Yet it was not until Benjamin Franklin’s “Poor Richard’s Almanack” in 1736 that the modern formulation of the proverb, “God helps those who help themselves,” was recorded.

An Ancient, Universal Belief

Ancient writings sometimes also emphasized the idea that divine assistance is contingent upon our willingness to take action. Take Aesop’s fable “Hercules and the Waggoner” from around 570 B.C., which vividly illustrates this concept. In the tale, a waggoner finds his cart stuck in a muddy track and, instead of addressing the issue himself, invokes the mighty Hercules to help. Hercules appears before him and instructs the waggoner to exert effort by putting his shoulder behind the wheel and urging his oxen forward. Hercules, in a stern rebuke, warns the man not to seek his help ever again unless he has first made an earnest attempt on his own.

Various European languages contain similar proverbs that convey the essence of self-help versus divine reliance as well. The French say, “God never builds us bridges, but he gives us hands,” and the Spanish caution, “While waiting for water from heaven, don’t stop irrigating.”

Another View

So while it’s clear from all of these sayings, or proverbs, that we need to take personal responsibility and not simply have faith, one thing they may reflect is the following belief as well: All the things we do, or don’t do, are being watched from on high. And they may reflect as well that, in a way, perhaps we “have to earn it”—we need to act well while in this world, and when this is observed, we will receive heavenly assistance and rewards.

So, “trust in God, but tie up your camel.” Keep trusting, and keep tying. They’re both worthwhile, worthy acts.