Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtIn my last post, Part One of “The Question We All Ask: Why?”, I wrote about why people are tempted to blame God for the destruction and hurt that life brings. We explored how this leads to the heartfelt cry, “Why God, why?” It's critical to get understanding so that the "Why's" don't give us a wrong perception of God resulting in blaming God, and then possibly undermining our faith because we wrongly perceive God as unjust or uncaring, which can result in someone abandoning their faith altogether.One common question I’ve been asked over the years, and has been a timeless question throughout the ages is, “Why do people who don’t believe in God seem to prosper?” Even Jeremiah wrestled with this dilemma, saying: "You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?" (Jeremiah 12:1, NIV).Job echoed this anguish, asking: "Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?... They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace" (Job 21:7, 13, NIV).These sentiments resonate with many Christians. After all, doesn’t the Bible say that God’s children are the ones who should be blessed? So why does it seem like godless, prideful, or even wicked people prosper while believers often struggle?Jesus addressed this in Matthew 5:44-45 (NIV): "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children 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."God allows His goodness to touch all people—righteous or unrighteous—because His desire is for everyone to know Him. When God’s goodness impacts a sinner’s life, it creates a tension. They want to express gratitude but may not acknowledge God as the source of their blessings. Romans 2:4 (TLB) explains: "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."God’s goodness is His strategy to draw people toward Him. This same goodness that once touched us as sinners continues to work in the lives of those who are lost. As Romans 5:8 (TLB) reminds us: "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." It’s important to remember that while God’s goodness toward the wicked may feel like a blessing, true blessings are reserved for His people. For Christians, blessings extend far beyond material wealth. They include the richness of knowing Christ, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the assurance of eternal life. These spiritual blessings surpass any fleeting prosperity the world can offer.When Christians focus on worldly measures of success, they risk losing sight of their true inheritance. Psalm 37:7-9 (TLB) provides clear guidance: "Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him to act. Don’t be envious of evil men who prosper. Stop your anger! Turn off your wrath. Don’t fret and worry—it only leads to harm. For the wicked shall be destroyed, but those who trust the Lord shall be given every blessing."God calls us to trust His justice and timing. While the wicked may seem to thrive temporarily, their prosperity is fleeting. Without Christ, they are spiritually bankrupt, regardless of their material wealth. In contrast, believers are richly blessed with the opportunity to live intimately with God and to fulfill His purposes.Let us not envy the temporary success of the ungodly. Instead, let’s focus on the eternal riches we have in Christ and the purpose He has given us to be a blessing to others. God’s goodness is meant to lead everyone to repentance. Let’s trust Him to work in His perfect way and time, knowing that His justice will prevail.In Part Three, we’ll explore practical steps we can take to strengthen our faith and navigate life’s challenges without falling into the trap of asking, “Why God?” Until then, pray in faith, trust His love for you, and remember, this life is but a blink, but Heaven will be for eternity! Glory to God.In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
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