“Why Do the Wicked Seem to Prosper?”

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

Matthew 5:44-45 to: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

There is this guy named George. He lives in a house; I should say mansion – about 1,250,000 worth of real estate in a swank neighborhood. His community of homes is surrounded with a combination brick gate and wrought iron fence. He has three luxury cars, an in-ground swimming pool and more adult toys that you can imagine. He likes to mock Christians saying they are weak and use God as a crutch. He boast about how he has worked hard for everything he’s got and doesn’t need God for anything – ha, ha, ha. He is on his third gorgeous-looking wife and treats her like he did the others; as a controlling jerk. He is of the opinion that they should consider themselves lucky to be married to him because of the provision he makes available. Things do seem to go George’s way. He just seems to get richer and some guys think that for him to keep trading up on wives for another that is prettier and younger than the last is not a bad deal.

There are many difficult things to bear in life but it seems that one of the hardest for Christians is when they see arrogant and prideful people like George seem to prosper and be blessed while they themselves struggle – financially or otherwise. Doesn’t the Word of God say that His children are the ones who should be blessed? Why does it seem like evil people prosper and why does it bother Christians so much?

We are in instructed by Jesus in Matthew 5:44-45 to: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

We are taught that the Lord lets His goodness touch the lives of those that don’t know Him or reject Him. Why? Because He wants them to know that there is a God that loves them. You might not have thought about this, but there is something that happens inside of a person when some wonderful goodness touches their life. As Christians, we yearn to thank God.

When God allows blessing to touch the life of the sinful or the wicked – especially when they deny the existence of God – they have a dilemma. They want to thank Him. If they say they don’t believe in Him, they try to redirect those feelings but I assure you that the thanks they feel wants to go upward toward Heaven. For those that don’t deny the Lord but just haven’t thought much about Him or who have avoided Him, they do often lift thanks to God but then it makes them feel guilty. They feel this way because they know they aren’t right with Him. The goodness or blessing they feel is God’s strategy to help them reevaluate their relationship with God hopefully leading them to seek Him. Romans 2:4 reveals this truth. “Don’t you realize how patient God is being with you? Or don’t you care? Can’t you see that he has been waiting all this time without punishing you, to give you time to turn from your sin? His kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.”

The goodness of God touches sinners and the wicked so that they will be drawn toward repentance and consider God’s love. He did the same with you and me. The Bible says in Roman 5:8 that God was sending His love to us, and while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us. In other words, He poured out His love on us when we didn’t deserve it.

When God’s goodness touches the Christian’s life, it is called blessing. When God’s goodness touches the sinner’s life, it is called the ”goodness and mercy of God.” It will feel like a blessing to them but it is not actually a blessing. Blessings are reserved for God’s people. It is simply God’s goodness and mercy. God is trying to get a hold of them, but He won’t keep trying forever.

God loves all men and is trying to reach them through the things that impact their heart. And yet, it isn’t endless. It will come to an end, and if they don’t turn to the Lord they will reach the end no one wants to face. Because we as Christians know the Lord, we are rich in blessing. God is good to us and wants to bless us. We just need to remember who we are and stay focused on His will for our lives. God will take care of them. Let’s not be jealous because without Him they are naked and poor! We are rich in blessing!

In His love,
Pastor Tim