WHY DO THE UNRIGHTEOUS SUCCEED?

My wife had been stung by the words of a friend: “Christians are some of the most unhappy people I know.” I think that there is some truth in this claim. The Bible even confirms her friend’s observation:

• Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants. As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. (Psalms 17:13-15 ESV; Matthew 6:2, 5, 16)

This had been the oft-repeated lament of the Psalmists. They often saw the unrighteousness prospering as the righteous were suffering:

• Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. (Psalms 73:12-13)

Understandably, we often feel the same way. Besides, we often find that the more we uphold God’s truths, the more persecution and rejection we face:

• All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face at the sound of the taunter and reviler, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger. All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant. (Psalms 44:15-17)

How do we understand our painful experience in light of God’s magnificent promises? With understanding comes patient endurance. When we understand that we will have to pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death to reach our appointed Rest, we can endure (1 Corinthians 10:12-13). If this understanding fails us, we will experience the torment of the Psalmist. However, he was comforted by a revelation of the big picture - the future:

• How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!...I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. (Psalms 73:19, 22-24)

We too need to be so enlightened. It also helps to know why we are required to experience this “death.” For one thing, the people of God tend to be needy and broken to begin with (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Why? To eliminate boasting and pride! Therefore, we are to remember from where the Lord has brought us (Titus 3:3-5).

For another thing, the hardships are to begin with us:

• For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)

We are undergoing extreme remodeling to conform us to our Savior (2 Corinthians 4:10-11). Such reconstruction is never pretty, but painful and messy (Hebrews 12:5-11). No wonder the people of God are struggling! However, this training will slowly bring forth the fruits of the Spirit:

• But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24)

Paul concluded that this training will lead us to turn from worldly desires to seek our Lord before all else (Matthew 6:33). It also teaches us to de-invest ourselves from our hope of fulfillment in this world and to set our sights on the next:

• looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:2-3)

Understanding the Lord’s plan will enable us to rejoice, even as we observe the prosperity of those whose reward is given them in this life.