Why do the wicked prosper?

[curious mike]

I am not understanding this, God punished the Jews time after time after time for disobeying so why do people who live a life of wrong doing keep on prospering especially while those who try their best to live an obedient life keep facing hardships?

 

[Job3315]

I am not understanding this, God punished the Jews time after time after time for disobeying so why do people who live a life of wrong doing keep on prospering especially while those who try their best to live an obedient life keep facing hardships?

It all depends on what you think prosperity is. Is your definition based on money and possessions or the fruits of the Spirit?

The Bible says the love for money is the root of all kinds of evil. It doesn't say the need for money or having money is the root of all evil. Its important to ask ourselves, does money controls you or do you control money? Are you a good steward with your supplies? If you had a million dollars and the Lord asks you to give it away, could you do it? You might see the wicked prosper but is that a earthly prosperity or spiritual?

Don’t forget those who are faithful with little will be faithful with more.

 

[discipler7]

I am not understanding this, God punished the Jews time after time after time for disobeying so why do people who live a life of wrong doing keep on prospering especially while those who try their best to live an obedient life keep facing hardships?

DANIEL.7: = 24 The ten horns are ten kings
Who shall arise from this kingdom.
And another shall rise after them;
He shall be different from the first ones,
And shall subdue three kings.
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time.

"The wicked shall prosper" had already been prophesied by Daniel above, ie he was referring to the last superpower/"kingdom" of the world, USA.

Since the 1960s, USA has perverted God's Law by legalizing adultery, sodomy, abortion, same-sex marriage, etc. Christian bakers, florists, wedding planners/photographers, etc are being prosecuted/persecuted in USA.
....... US Law forbids class-action lawsuits against Big Corporations like Microsoft, Bank of America, AT&T, etc, ie "victims" can only resort to arbitration.
.
.
P S - The ten horns refer to the 10 European kingdoms who had colonized nearly the whole world from the 15th century onwards until WW2 in 1945, eg the Imperial British Empire.

 

[dreadnought]

I am not understanding this, God punished the Jews time after time after time for disobeying so why do people who live a life of wrong doing keep on prospering especially while those who try their best to live an obedient life keep facing hardships?

Prosperity and peace of mind are two different things. By doing the Lord's will, he provides for us and we have peace of mind. Sin robs us of our peace of mind.

 

[Hank77]

Matt 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 5:45 - Bible Gateway

Rain is a good thing just as the sun is.

 

[S.O.J.I.A.]

Psalms 73
Hebrews 12:4-11

 

[SkyWriting]

I am not understanding this, God punished the Jews time after time after time for disobeying so why do people who live a life of wrong doing keep on prospering especially while those who try their best to live an obedient life keep facing hardships?

Imagine if Muslims were the true faith and they all prosper and get filthy rich
becasue they follow the one true God.

You'd not be impressed at their effortless life, would you?

NOW I've got you mad for making life too easy.
There is just no pleasing you.

 

[SkyWriting]

I am not understanding this, God punished the Jews time after time after time for disobeying so why do people who live a life of wrong doing keep on prospering especially while those who try their best to live an obedient life keep facing hardships?

How about this one:
All church ministers get $10 million a year from God.
Are you happy now?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I am not understanding this, God punished the Jews time after time after time for disobeying so why do people who live a life of wrong doing keep on prospering especially while those who try their best to live an obedient life keep facing hardships?

Sounds like you are experiencing this. Life tests most people, spiritually and materially. Hang in there, your life isn't over yet.

Note: Not all Jews are evil, or prosperous (although they are still under God's curse).

 

[timewerx]

Because evil rules this world - 1 John 5:19

 

[mukk_in]

I don't think that the Lord is allowing only the wicked to prosper. By God's grace some of us in the Lord are also being prospered and are striving hard to use it effectively in His service. Peace in Christ.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

It looks to me like the 10 little piggies going to market. No iron left to sharpen iron.

 

[Denadii]

.

I am not understanding this, God punished the Jews time after time after time for disobeying so why do people who live a life of wrong doing keep on prospering especially while those who try their best to live an obedient life keep facing hardships?

Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. Are you the just? Are you looking at the wealth of others, and craving that wealth instead of Seeking first the kingdom of God, and letting Him add all the rest to you?

I understand your question...I was there too. But remember....Money is the lowest form of prosperity. Most of those people who live a wrong life have a bunch of money but look at their lives....They have to be supercareful not to lose it. They hang on to it like a life preserver...They have problems in their lives which make your problems look like heaven.

 

[timewerx]

.
I understand your question...I was there too. But remember....Money is the lowest form of prosperity. Most of those people who live a wrong life have a bunch of money but look at their lives....They have to be supercareful not to lose it. They hang on to it like a life preserver...They have problems in their lives which make your problems look like heaven.

Actually, Jesus did not say material wealth is the least form of prosperity.

Jesus called material wealth as unrighteous wealth Luke 16:9 (regardless of how you got it).

And He also told the matters of the flesh amounts to nothing in John chapter 6. And obviously, that would also include material things (even food) and including money.

Therefore, money is not least form of prosperity, it's either zero (worthless) or negative (bad, evil).

It does not come from the Father - 1 John 2:15-17.

What Jesus is mentioning about life in abundance in John 10:10 concerns the Spirit and not about material things (again, explained in John chapter 6). In the same verse, who Jesus is referring to as the thief is the devil who did not really came to steal your worldly goods but to rob you of the truth with deception / lies about things that truly matter vs things that are worthless.

Although the Bible does not explain why. It's easy to see why Jesus would refer to money as evil. Just look at how profits are made -- usually by exploiting the weaknesses of people for example like ignorance and even poverty / desperation. The cheap labor of the poor for example, and Jesus have compassion for the poor.

The good news to our money-loving Christians is that the Bible doesn't say anything bad about making money.....You can make tons of money for all I care, doesn't matter to the Bible..... It's where you spend money with is what could potentially make it bad (and most people got it wrong). The Bible gives plenty of teachings in such regard. Now I won't tell it, the clue I'm only giving is that many, if not most Christians probably haven't / never read those parts of the Bible, or if they did, never took it seriously.

 

[Denadii]

Actually, Jesus did not say material wealth is the least form of prosperity.

Jesus called material wealth as unrighteous wealth Luke 16:9 (regardless of how you got it).

And He also told the matters of the flesh amounts to nothing in John chapter 6. And obviously, that would also include material things (even food) and including money.

Therefore, money is not least form of prosperity, it's either zero (worthless) or negative (bad, evil).

It does not come from the Father - 1 John 2:15-17.

What Jesus is mentioning about life in abundance in John 10:10 concerns the Spirit and not about material things (again, explained in John chapter 6). In the same verse, who Jesus is referring to as the thief is the devil who did not really came to steal your worldly goods but to rob you of the truth with deception / lies about things that truly matter vs things that are worthless.

Although the Bible does not explain why. It's easy to see why Jesus would refer to money as evil. Just look at how profits are made -- usually by exploiting the weaknesses of people for example like ignorance and even poverty / desperation. The cheap labor of the poor for example, and Jesus have compassion for the poor.

The good news to our money-loving Christians is that the Bible doesn't say anything bad about making money.....You can make tons of money for all I care, doesn't matter to the Bible..... It's where you spend money with is what could potentially make it bad (and most people got it wrong). The Bible gives plenty of teachings in such regard. Now I won't tell it, the clue I'm only giving is that many, if not most Christians probably haven't / never read those parts of the Bible, or if they did, never took it seriously.

You said "Jesus called material wealth as unrighteous wealth Luke 16:9 (regardless of how you got it)"
That verse does not say material wealth is unrighteous at all...It says to use the wealth of the world.... There is no money in heaven so its worldly..This world...It does not say its unrighteous... In fact....If money is so bad, unrighteous, why did God give us the power (authority) to get wealth...of every kind?
Deuteronomy 8:18 (CJB)
18 No, you are to remember Adonai your God, because it is he who is giving you the power to get wealth, in order to confirm his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as is happening even today.

You said "And He also told the matters of the flesh amounts to nothing in John chapter 6. And obviously, that would also include material things (even food) and including money."
Jesus was not talking about prosperity, He was talking about Himself as being the giver of life. The only source of life

On hearing it, many of his talmidim said, “This is a hard word — who can bear to listen to it?” 61 But Yeshua, aware that his talmidim were grumbling about this, said to them, “This is a trap for you? 62 Suppose you were to see the Son of Man going back up to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is no help. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life, 64 yet some among you do not trust.” (For Yeshua knew from the outset which ones would not trust him, also which one would betray him.) 65 “This,” he said, “is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has made it possible for him.”

You said "What Jesus is mentioning about life in abundance in John 10:10 concerns the Spirit and not about material things (again, explained in John chapter 6). In the same verse, who Jesus is referring to as the thief is the devil who did not really came to steal your worldly goods but to rob you of the truth with deception / lies about things that truly matter vs things that are worthless."

But truly....Jesus did not come to bring only partial salvation...He knows we have to live in this world, and to be effective ministers for Him we need to be supplied...He is the minister of our seed..He is our supplier. Where did you get the idea that Satan is fine with us having all our needs met so that we can minister to the poor and the sick? Where did you get the idea that Satan is fine with us having the wherewithall to help people. You stay poor Christians seem to think that the world has respect for the poor...Who asks the poor for any kind of advice? Nobody....Who asks the poor for any kind of help? Nobody...Who looks to the poor to feed the hungry? Nobody....Who looks to the poor to be anything more than a drain on society? Nobody....
My friend...An army requires funds, equipment and food to march, or to fight. We are an army (or we should be) and our commander in chief wants us poor?

I'm stopping here....I don't know what bible you read, but you need to read it a bit more carefully?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I am not understanding this, God punished the Jews time after time after time for disobeying so why do people who live a life of wrong doing keep on prospering especially while those who try their best to live an obedient life keep facing hardships?

"Why do the wicked prosper?"
This is directly addressed IN SCRIPTURE.
I forget all the chapters it is described.
BIBLEGATEWAY is a good site to search the Scripture and even see how the many different translations agree with each other without contradiction ....
enjoy reading !

 

[AvgJoe]

I am not understanding this, God punished the Jews time after time after time for disobeying so why do people who live a life of wrong doing keep on prospering especially while those who try their best to live an obedient life keep facing hardships?

Question: "Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people?"

Answer: This question is similar to its opposite: "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" Both questions refer to what seems to be the perplexing injustice we witness every day. The 73rd Psalm is our answer to the very same questions that also tormented the psalmist. Finding himself in terrible distress and agony of soul he writes, “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73:2-3).

The writer of this Psalm was a man named Asaph, a leader of one of the temple choirs. Obviously, he was not a wealthy man, but rather one who had dedicated his life to serving God (see 1 Chronicles 25). But, like us, he had experienced some difficulties and questioned the injustice of it all. He watched the evil people around him living by their own rules, enjoying all the wealth and pleasures of the world and collecting riches. He complains, "They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills" (Psalm 73:4-5).

Asaph was looking at these people who didn't have problems. They could pay their bills. They had plenty to eat and plenty of luxuries. But poor Asaph was stuck with directing the choir and trying to live godly. And to make things worse, his choice to serve God didn't seem to be helping him. He began to envy these people and even to question God as to why He would allow such a thing to happen!

How often do we find ourselves relating to Asaph? We dedicate our lives to serving God. Then we witness the wicked, ungodly people around us get new possessions, luxurious homes, promotions, and beautiful clothes, while we struggle financially. The answer lies in the rest of the psalm. Asaph envied these evil people until he realized one very important thing. When he entered the sanctuary of God, he fully understood their final destiny: “When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies” (Psalm 73:16-20). Those who have temporary riches on earth are in reality spiritual beggars because they do not have true riches—eternal life.

There are many times when we do not understand what is happening to us, nor do we understand how providence works. When Asaph entered the sanctuary of God, he began to see that there was no need for him to be envious of the prosperity of the wicked because their prosperity is an illusion. He began to comprehend that the ancient deceiver, Satan, had used lies to distract him from the reality of God. Upon entering the sanctuary, Asaph realized that prosperity is a fleeting fulfillment, like a pleasant dream that pleases us only for a little while but, when we awaken, we realize it was not real. Asaph rebukes himself for his own stupidity. He admits to being “senseless and ignorant” to envy the wicked or to be jealous of the perishing. His thoughts then returned to his own happiness in God when he realized how much more joy, fulfillment, and true spiritual prosperity he had in the Creator.

We may not have everything we want here on earth, but we will one day prosper for all eternity through Jesus Christ our Lord. Whenever we are tempted to try the other road, we should remember that the other road is a dead end (Matthew 7:13). But the narrow road before us through Jesus is the only road that leads to eternal life. That should be our joy and our comfort. “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge . . .” (Psalm 73:25, 27-28)

We need not concern ourselves when good things seem to happen to bad people. We only need to keep our focus on our Creator and enter into His presence every day through the portal of His holy Word. There we will find truth, contentment, spiritual riches, and eternal joy.

www.gotquestions.org/good-things-bad-people.html

 

[AvgJoe]

The Bible says the love for money is the root of all evil.

The Bible says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil~~~> www.biblehub.com/1_timothy/6-10.htm . Big difference there.

 

[Denadii]

Question: "Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people?"

Answer: This question is similar to its opposite: "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" Both questions refer to what seems to be the perplexing injustice we witness every day. The 73rd Psalm is our answer to the very same questions that also tormented the psalmist. Finding himself in terrible distress and agony of soul he writes, “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73:2-3).

The writer of this Psalm was a man named Asaph, a leader of one of the temple choirs. Obviously, he was not a wealthy man, but rather one who had dedicated his life to serving God (see 1 Chronicles 25). But, like us, he had experienced some difficulties and questioned the injustice of it all. He watched the evil people around him living by their own rules, enjoying all the wealth and pleasures of the world and collecting riches. He complains, "They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills" (Psalm 73:4-5).

Asaph was looking at these people who didn't have problems. They could pay their bills. They had plenty to eat and plenty of luxuries. But poor Asaph was stuck with directing the choir and trying to live godly. And to make things worse, his choice to serve God didn't seem to be helping him. He began to envy these people and even to question God as to why He would allow such a thing to happen!

How often do we find ourselves relating to Asaph? We dedicate our lives to serving God. Then we witness the wicked, ungodly people around us get new possessions, luxurious homes, promotions, and beautiful clothes, while we struggle financially. The answer lies in the rest of the psalm. Asaph envied these evil people until he realized one very important thing. When he entered the sanctuary of God, he fully understood their final destiny: “When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies” (Psalm 73:16-20). Those who have temporary riches on earth are in reality spiritual beggars because they do not have true riches—eternal life.

There are many times when we do not understand what is happening to us, nor do we understand how providence works. When Asaph entered the sanctuary of God, he began to see that there was no need for him to be envious of the prosperity of the wicked because their prosperity is an illusion. He began to comprehend that the ancient deceiver, Satan, had used lies to distract him from the reality of God. Upon entering the sanctuary, Asaph realized that prosperity is a fleeting fulfillment, like a pleasant dream that pleases us only for a little while but, when we awaken, we realize it was not real. Asaph rebukes himself for his own stupidity. He admits to being “senseless and ignorant” to envy the wicked or to be jealous of the perishing. His thoughts then returned to his own happiness in God when he realized how much more joy, fulfillment, and true spiritual prosperity he had in the Creator.

We may not have everything we want here on earth, but we will one day prosper for all eternity through Jesus Christ our Lord. Whenever we are tempted to try the other road, we should remember that the other road is a dead end (Matthew 7:13). But the narrow road before us through Jesus is the only road that leads to eternal life. That should be our joy and our comfort. “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge . . .” (Psalm 73:25, 27-28)

We need not concern ourselves when good things seem to happen to bad people. We only need to keep our focus on our Creator and enter into His presence every day through the portal of His holy Word. There we will find truth, contentment, spiritual riches, and eternal joy.

www.gotquestions.org/good-things-bad-people.html

God does not allow bad things to happen to good people...Simple as that....God put His people in charge in the Earth...That means if bad things happen to good people its not His fault but ours.
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves; and let them rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the animals, and over all the earth, and over every crawling creature that crawls on the earth.”
Psalm 115:16
The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

 

[Denadii]

The Bible says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil~~~> www.biblehub.com/1_timothy/6-10.htm . Big difference there.

And here, the original word for love is "Lust"