WHY DOES GOD ALLOW THE WICKED TO LIVE AND PROSPER?

Presented by

Bro Chris Afekolu (Bishop)June 07, 2015

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW THE WICKED TO LIVE AND PROSPER?

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW THE WICKED TO LIVE AND PROSPER? TEXT; JEREMIAH 12:1-2 and PSALMS 92:7


INTRODUCTIONDEFINITIONS;

• WICKED {evil, morally bad in principle or practice, having committed to unrighteous acts, a sinful person, intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality, highly offensive; arousing hatred or disgust, distasteful, revolting, repellent

• PROSPER { to be successful, especially in financial or economic terms, to flourish or thrive}


The question why does God allow the wicked to live and prosper is an aged long one. Many have wondered why the ungodly and wicked lived, not only live but even lived longer and prosper. This has made it even difficult such that some once professed Christ seems to fall away because of the presumed concept.

We are not alone in this question. Prophet Jeremiah after ascribing Righteousness to God brought up some puzzling questions in view of this;


Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; They grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth But far from their mind.

(Jeremiah 12:1-2 NKJV)


His questions, just like some are asking today;

1. Why do the wicked prosper? This is truly a perplexing problem to those who are under the impression that God rules the earth and everything that happens comes from Him. Asaph was puzzled about the same thing in his day (Ps. 73:2-17) note verse 17. The answer is that Satan is the god of this world system, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the children of disobedience {2Cor. 4:4, Eph. 2:1-3, Rev. 12:9}. Many times he helps to prosper and hinders the righteous who have not yet learned to seek and get the help of God in business. Thus, if a wicked man prospers the Christian should not stumble over the fact. He himself could prosper more than all the wicked if he would be led by God and appropriate the promises to his own life.


2. Why are those who deal treacherously so happy? The answer is that their enjoyment is in wickedness and material gain which they can get through deceit and ungodly dealings3. Why were the conspirators of Anathoth prospering in the plotting of his life when he had been faithful to prophesy for God? Jeremiah could not seem to reconcile this fact with his faith in the righteousness of God {verse 1,2}. He did not doubt the ultimate justice and punishment of the wicked, but he wanted immediate action of dealing with his enemies (v 1-3). They were seemingly planted by God and not cursed by Him, while the prophet seemed to be uprooted and driven out. The Lord rebuked him for this line of reasoning, and showed him by proverbial sayings that there were still greater trials ahead for him (v 5-13)


The Psalm writer provided answer to this aged old question why does God allow the wicked to live and prosper. This question is addressed in Psalm 92. The writer admitted that the wicked may seem to prosper; however, he cut through the way things look to the realization that their success is hollow and temporary. God he argued allows the disobedient to experience prosperity in order that they may provide a setting for Him to display His condemnation of evil. The unrighteous may be prosperous for a season, but their success is deceptive. Like flowers, they flourish briefly, only to be cut off forever. The wise will see through their smokescreen, trusting in God’s righteousness and the judgment that will surely come.


When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: (Psalms 92:7 KJV)

Though they are flourishing Ps 92:7: When the wicked spring as the grass in wet season (so numerous, so thickly sown, so green, and growing so fast), and all the workers of iniquity do flourish in splendor, and power, and all the instances of outward prosperity, are easy and many, and succeed in their enterprises, one would think that all this was in order to their being happy, that it was a certain evidence of God's favour and an earnest of something as good or better in reserve: but it is quite otherwise; it is that they shall be destroyed forever. The very prosperity of fools shall slay them, Pr 1:32.


The sheep that are designed for the slaughter are put into the fattest pasture. Ver. 7. Little do they think that they are suffered to prosper that like beasts they may be fitter for slaughter. The fatter they are, the fitter for slaughter, and the sooner slain: "He slew the fattest of them." Ps 78:31. --Zachary Bogan


The person who genuinely prospers is one who is planted in Yahweh and His house. He worships Him and sees His works (Ps. 92:4). His life is fruitful, even into old age (Ps. 92:14a). His prosperity is not to be found in this fleeting world; it is found in knowing the Living God and being His faithful servant. The righteous person has an enduring prosperity that does not fade with time, deteriorate with use or fall apart before the judgment of God.

Not everyone knows about the wonderful works of God, hence the psalmist puts it this way .. A senseless man does not know, nor does a fool understand this. (Psalms 92:6 NKJV). The unbeliever does not see or understand the works of God, and he does not grasp the destiny of the wicked. He is oblivious to the fact that “when the wicked sprouted up like grass …..it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore” {Ps. 92:7)


Some may argue why allow the wicked to live? The wicked are part of our lives i.e. they live in our mist. Their presence and their prosperity, as well as other aspects of their existence, must be put into the mix of our thoughts about God. What am I saying - you find it difficult to understand why certain evil men exist and in their evils seems to prosper! The human race has been granted freedom of choice by a gracious God! We like the angels, can decide between good and evil; some have abused this sacred privilege - also like the angels – and have chosen to rebel against God. They have been consumed by their quest for riches, power, pleasure, or other selfish ends. These people are in our communities; they may be among our friends or families.


Further thought about these wicked people, we must conclude that they are foolish. The psalmist called them “senseless”. They are cruel and animal-like in the ways they think. The writer referred to them as people devoid of understanding. They have chosen to be ignorant of God and His ways. Psalm 92:6 says “a senseless man has no knowledge nor does a stupid man understand this”. This statement pictures a person who never think about God, never considers His works and never looks up in gratitude for what God has done.


An additional thought come to us about the senseless: they may have life, but they do not have full lives. They sprout up like grass and thrive for a while. We are tempted to look at them and say, “Evil pays dividends. The best way to prosper is to live solely for oneself. Then with soberness and deeper thinking, we look more closely at these people and remember we have error in our judgment: we have failed to acknowledge their end, their destiny. Viewing the climax to life, the psalmist observed that God allows them to go to the top “only that they might be destroyed forever” (PS. 92:7c). Yes, God tolerates their prosperity and permits them to succeed for a time, but He does so for a reason. The wicked, at the end will be an example of the justice of God. They will serve God, whether they are aware of it or not, by providing the setting for Him to bring His wrath upon wickedness and reward righteousness.


In realization that the wicked man will have a woeful end, only his repentance and return to God can prevent it {2 Peter 3:9}. The words of the psalmist are correct; For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered (Psalms 92:9 KJV). This is the truth about life. Sooner or later, the wicked person will perish. He will be scattered. God has announced the end at the very beginning, and we need to look at that end from where we are.

We have learned some insight about life. We have seen that wickedness is here. We may not have all the answers for the questions that could be raised about evil, but we can know this fundamental truth; God has chosen to let it exist in the world for a while. We will have to live the righteous life around wickedness or in the midst of wicked people!


CONCLUSION -The testimonies or proof of life and God’s word declare that the one who turns to wickedness is stupid or animal-like. Whoever pursues it has chosen to be senseless about two truths;

i. He will not find true happiness or fulfilment in life, and ii. He is headed toward a tragic end at death.

The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. (Proverbs 3:33 KJV)

The fear of the LORD prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened. The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish. (Proverbs 10:27-28 NKJV)

We must love righteousness and pursue it, and we must remember that God will handle the wicked in His own way, in His own time. With wisdom from God we can look with confidence on righteousness and with equal confidence, anticipate the ultimate demise of the wicked.

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WHY DOES GOD ALLOW THE WICKED TO LIVE AND PROSPER?