Why do the wicked prosper?

"Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?" —Jeremiah 12:1 (NLT)

It's easy to look at some of the most successful people in the world and wonder how and why they got there. We might scroll through social media and see people who continually commit evil and yet seem to rise in earthly power and wealth.

We know that God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4) and will repay evil doers according to their deeds (Proverbs 11:31). But then why does He allow the wicked to not only continue in their wickedness, but seemingly thrive—while many faithful followers of Christ suffer?

God Knows It Feels Unfair

"Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful? They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren. Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them." —Job 21:7-9 (NLT)

The Bible doesn't shy away from this question of why it seems like those who do evil somehow prosper in life (Job 21:7-13). In fact, this is one of the most repeated questions throughout scripture, as many biblical figures have grappled with this very issue.

One of the most well-known biblical figures who has grappled with this question is Job, who was said to be a "blameless and upright" man (Job 1:1) and yet suffered greatly, unprovoked, and very suddenly. Job openly grapples with the reality that evil people live successful lives without worry while he, who has devoted his life to serving God, has lost everything (including his family, health, and wealth).

If anyone has a right to complain about the wicked prospering while the righteous suffer, it's Job. And yet, he didn't curse God or lose faith in Him (Job 2:9-10). By the end of Job's story, God has restored his health and wealth, and his family grew (Job 42). While we might feel hopeless in the present, God always has a plan for the future.

God Waits for the Wicked to Repent

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." —2 Peter 3:9

One reason why God allows the wicked to prosper is because He wants to give them time to repent of their evil actions and turn to Him (2 Peter 3:9). If God immediately struck down everyone who did evil, none of us would survive long enough to receive forgiveness (Romans 6:23).

We tend to judge others harshly when it comes to sin (Matthew 7:1). We often compare ourselves and see others as "worse" than we are and wish people would just "get what they deserve." But what we need to realize is that we're all sinners by God's standards, deserving of His judgment (Romans 3:23). It's only by His mercy that we wake up every day (Lamentations 3:22; Ephesians 2:8-9).

God is patient and wants to give everyone a chance to repent. During the time of the book of Acts, a man called Saul was persecuting the Christian church, literally executing Christ followers. And yet God remained patient with him and, ultimately, the man repented and became one of the most important apostles of Christ. He took on the name Paul, then spread the gospel to the Gentile world through his travels and guided the young churches on proper godly practices.

Success of the Wicked is Temporary

"Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do." —Psalm 73:27-28 (NLT)

Probably the most relevant passage to this question is Psalm 73. In fact, the entire psalm is a discussion of this question—with a little self-pity thrown in. The psalmist is calling to God, reflecting on his struggle to understand why the wicked do so well, and grappling with God's justice. He directly questions why he devoted his life to serving God when those who rejected God continued to succeed more than him (Psalm 73:13-14).

The psalmist eventually concludes that there's more to the story than what we see on the surface (Psalm 73:16-19). At last, he humbly confesses his bitterness and acknowledges that God knows best (Psalm 73:21-26). He finally understands that those who choose to stay far from God will eventually be destroyed (Psalm 73:27; John 3:18).

God's Judgment of the Wicked

"Anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment." —John 3:36 (NLT)

Though the wicked may prosper during their lifetime on earth, their success is only temporary, as God will judge their sins (Psalm 49:16-17). We should resist feelings of jealousy or bitterness toward the prosperous wicked, because their treasures will wither and fade in the end (Psalm 37:1-2).

Even if the wicked aren't repaid on earth, they'll still stand before the throne of God in judgment and have to answer for their actions (Ecclesiastes 8:12). All their gain will all be seen as meaningless. Rejection of God results in eternal separation from Him, which is full of darkness and loneliness and is devoid of godly presence.

As Jesus tells us, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36). So, while it may seem that the wicked find success in the world's eyes, ultimately, they're trading in their own soul for temporary happiness rather than eternity with our loving Creator.

Pray for the Wicked

Pray for those who choose wickedness in their lives. Ask God to show them that serving God is better, that loving others is more fulfilling, and that an eternal relationship with the God of the universe has been made possible by Jesus' death and resurrection. As long as we live, it's not too late to make that decision.

"We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." —Romans 8:28 (NLT)

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