Why Do The Wicked Prosper?

Daily Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 12-15

Daily Focus Passage: Jeremiah 12

Why do the evil prosper? This question has crossed the lips of many people throughout the years. The prophet Jeremiah and other people in the Bible ask this question to the Lord as they attempt to make sense of why those who fear the Lord seem to face difficulty and those who mock the Lord appear to find success. The question flows from humanity's understanding of fairness and receiving what they deserve. In Jeremiah 12, the prophet asked the Lord this question. When we consider this question, I see the reason being misplaced perspectives, the existence of holding on to needed truths and living life with a proper understanding.

THE MISPLACED PERSPECTIVE

The question concerning the prospering of evil flows from misplaced perspectives we use to make sense of life. When we become overly concerned with the prospering of the wicked, we usually arrive there by gazing through the perspective of the temporary and ignoring the reality of the eternal. When we use the temporary perspective, we become driven by this world's things, ideas, and concepts and forget to understand reality through the perspective of the Lord and eternity. 

The misplaced perspective occurs when we rely upon the ideology of the world and our fallen natural emotions that often oppose absolute truth. The Lord provides absolute truth for us in his Word. When the world infiltrates our perspective, we forget that God works in absolute truth and that his will and ways are perfect. Thus, evil appears to prosper when the Lord uses them to bless and curse. Therefore, when our perspective is skewed, our ability to navigate the issue of the appearance of the evil prospering becomes difficult.  

THE NEEDED TRUTHS

When we ask this question of the prosperity of the wicked, we must recognize three vital truths. First, the existence of free will means that the Lord does not treat us like puppets on a string. Thus, prosperity of the wicked is not linked to their position with the Lord because the Lord allows free will to occur. Free will means that people can choose to follow the Lord or not.  

The second truth is that the Lord is slow to anger. The wicked may prosper in the eyes of the world while still existing as an enemy of the Lord. The Lord is slow to anger them and allows them ample opportunity to respond to his grace and mercy. He offers them multiple opportunities to turn to him and withholds what they deserve by calling them to himself.

Third, we must understand that momentary success never outweighs eternal glory and reality. When we recognize the reality of eternity, temporary success does not hold merit because it becomes measured by creation and not the Creator. Success in this world is like the grass that withers and fades. Success in the eyes of the Lord is based on a relationship with him that carries an eternal promise.  

LIVING WITH UNDERSTANDING

The question concerning the prosperity of the wicked will often creep into our minds. The ability to live faithfully and to overcome that thought occurs as we live with a proper understanding. A good understanding happens as we live, trusting in the Lord. This approach to life means we lean into the Lord and place all of our life upon him. He becomes the foundation for every part of our life.

 Second, we must look to eternity and not focus on the temporary. We often allow the moment to steal the joy from looking to eternity. We enter a state of victory when we look to what is to come and not to the here and now. We enter a place in life where we understand that prosperity in this world does not equate to eternal glory. Still, that eternal glory provides hope whether prosperity is experienced or not.

 Third, we must find our treasure in the Lord. We must learn to live and seek the heavenly treasure and not the success of this world. We must strive to live as Christ and to store up treasure that becomes known in eternity. This approach to living changes the mindset and helps keep the perspective on the Lord and what is to come instead of the here and now.

 The prophet Jeremiah wanted to understand why the wicked prospered. Jeremiah is not alone in this question. Many people struggle with this question and seek answers in many places. The genuine ability to overcome this thought is to look to the Lord and live for eternity instead of the temporary. Are you trusting in the Lord and gazing with an eternal perspective?