WHY DO THE WICKED PROSPER?
                                                                                                                                                              By W. G. Guy

          Why is it that the wicked seem to always prosper and succeed in their evil endeavors.  The answer to this question is simple; it is because they are united with this evil and corrupt worldly system; and the world loves its own.  Thus they can prosper in the world’s corruption because they are a part of it. The things of this world are not of God but of this corrupt world.

1 John 2:15-17 – Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

         The wicked are not to be envied for their wealth or position of power and influence. Their days a numbered and all the wicked, no matter who they are, shall be cut off and their days ended; their prosperity does not benefit them one bit after that.

Psalm 73:3 – For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

          God may allow them to continue to live in their wickedness, but it is only to allow them time to recognize their corruption and to turn from it and repent.  Failure to do so leads ultimately to eternal destruction.  They are not to be envied by any means.  Our trust is to be in the LORD and His Word (promises), because He will bring you through this life to a great reward that the wicked cannot even image.  This eternal reward is only for the righteous. 

      In that day of God’s judgment the wicked will be filled with shame and will envy us who have inherited the earth and the Kingdom of God to rule and reign with Christ.   Until then, all of the earth is drowning in wickedness and lawlessness – sin.  All the wicked who seem to prosper in this evil world are products of this world.  They are in darkness while the righteous are the light of this world.  Thus we are in conflict with those walking in the darkness of evil, regardless of their prosperity, success or position.

1 John 5:19 – And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

          We who are born-again and love God do not seek after the things of this vile world, as do the wicked and unbelieving; but we seek first the kingdom of God and He provides all that we need. 

Matthew 6:33-34 –  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Romans 8:32 – He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

         Thus the pursuit of wealth and riches is not necessary for those of us who trust in God.

Psalm 37:1-2 – Fret not thyself because of evildoers, either be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
 
          What we receive from the Lord is far superior to what the world can provide to the wicked.

Psalm 37:16 –  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.  I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

          The wicked may cling to his riches, but when he is gone so is his wealth as it does not benefit him in eternity:  all that he thought that he was, and had, is gone. 

Psalm 37:35 – Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

          Thus saith the LORD:

Proverbs 13:2-3 – Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.   The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
 
          The wealth of the wicked shall not benefit them in the end; their gold and silver shall see corruption, as well as cause them anguish, and will become as a curse to them.
 
James 5:1-3 – Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.  Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.   Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire.
 
       Do not allow the deceitfulness of riches, or the pursuit thereof to distract you in this life from what is really important, and what God has planned for you.  The following is particularly important if you are called of God into a position of ministry to represent Him, and Jesus as LORD.
 
Matthew 13:22 –  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 

          Being unfruitful means being useless to God to properly represent Him and His kingdom.  Do not allow yourself to be drawn into the lusts of the world as in those who preach the prosperity doctrine.  The apostle Paul addressed this issue of those who preach the prosperity doctrine.

1 Timothy 6:3-7 – If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;  he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,  perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

          The apostle Peter gives a strong warning about those who fall into this situation. 

2 Peter 2:18-21 – For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

          (Note: what the apostle Peter wrote here defies the Calvinist doctrine of eternal security, or “once saved, always saved”.)

        However, this warning of not being entangled and overcome is not just for those called into the ministry, but for all who desire to walk with the Lord as overcomers of this world.  As a child of God you cannot compromise with this world and its systems.  We must separate ourselves from the world’s systems and its lusts.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 – Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

          To be separate from this world also means to be Holy; as God is HOLY: as one of His redeemed children, restored to the image and likeness of God, our Heavenly Father.

Luke 21:34-36 – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

          As you commit yourself to Christ, He will see  you though; because He sees your desire is for Him and not for the things of this vile world.