Evil People Prosper

[Diciple]

I am reading John Stott's incredible book, "The Cross of Christ." In our day to day lives we often see evil and sinful people prosper. They keep on having all the luck while we do-gooders struggle. The good in society may have all sorts of problems like sikness low paid jobs or whatever.
Solution lies in page 208 of this book. He refers to Psalm 73 which illustrates their health and wealth etc. As you read through this psalm you discover that they will not remain un-punished. Stott puts it well. "The place on which they stand so self-confidently is more slippery than they realise, and one day they will fall, ruined by the righteous judgement of God." Then he refers to Acts 17 verses 30-31. Stott refers to God being patient enough to hold, "the door of oppertunity open a while longer."
There you have it. God has great patience with evil doers with plenty of oppertunity to repent.

 

[0n3]

I love Psalms 73. There are so many times it has been such an encouragement. Check out the message version, it's pretty powerful.

Psalm 73

An Asaph Psalm

1-5 No doubt about it! God is good— good to good people, good to the good-hearted.
But I nearly missed it,
missed seeing his goodness.
I was looking the other way,
looking up to the people
At the top,
envying the wicked who have it made,
Who have nothing to worry about,
not a care in the whole wide world.

6-10 Pretentious with arrogance,
they wear the latest fashions in violence,
Pampered and overfed,
decked out in silk bows of silliness.
They jeer, using words to kill;
they bully their way with words.
They're full of hot air,
loudmouths disturbing the peace.
People actually listen to them—can you believe it?
Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words.

11-14 What's going on here? Is God out to lunch?
Nobody's tending the store.
The wicked get by with everything;
they have it made, piling up riches.
I've been stupid to play by the rules;
what has it gotten me?
A long run of bad luck, that's what—
a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.

15-20 If I'd have given in and talked like this,
I would have betrayed your dear children.
Still, when I tried to figure it out,
all I got was a splitting headache . . .
Until I entered the sanctuary of God.
Then I saw the whole picture:
The slippery road you've put them on,
with a final crash in a ditch of delusions.
In the blink of an eye, disaster!
A blind curve in the dark, and—nightmare!
We wake up and rub our eyes....Nothing.
There's nothing to them. And there never was.

21-24 When I was beleaguered and bitter,
totally consumed by envy,
I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox
in your very presence.
I'm still in your presence,
but you've taken my hand.
You wisely and tenderly lead me,
and then you bless me.

25-28 You're all I want in heaven!
You're all I want on earth!
When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
God is rock-firm and faithful.
Look! Those who left you are falling apart!
Deserters, they'll never be heard from again.
But I'm in the very presence of God—
oh, how refreshing it is!
I've made Lord God my home.
God, I'm telling the world what you do!

 

[t1mp]

The evil are only prospering in the things of the world. I wouldn't call that prospering, I would call them being homogenized by Satan so they stay blinded to Jesus. When you have Jesus, you truly prosper.

 

[Hentenza]

Mark 9:35
35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

 

[SonicBOOM]

I am reading John Stott's incredible book, "The Cross of Christ." I our day to day lives we often see evil and sinful people prosper. they keep on having all the luck while we do-gooders struggle. The good in society may have all sorts of problems like sikness low paid jobs or whatever.
Solution lies in page 208 of this book. He refers to Psalm 73 which illustrates their health and wealth etc. As you read through this psalm you discover that they will not remain un-punished. Stott puts it well. "The place on which they stand so self-confidently is more slippery than they realise, and one day they will fall, ruined by the righteous judgement of God." Then he refers to Acts 17 verses 30-31. Stott refers to God being patient enough to hold, "the door of oppertunity open a while longer."
There you have it. God has great patience with evil doers with plenty of oppertunity to repent.

I think I'd agree with this. On top of that these people aren't usaully as happy as they appear. the reason here is they are longing for joy and they use greed, pride, and lust as their means to find it. As we all soon find, joy is not to be found there. So I think relizing that and also having the weight of God's convictions constantly upon their heart, I think they tend to be the most miserable people. In the world's eyes they are successful and they found what makes life good. However.... if we also think that life is to be found there we will soon despair. Life is not to be found there so usaully, deep in their hearts, they are incredably miserable despite their cheated attempts to make life good.


However.... I do disagree with Scott on one thing. God cares for these people. So he often sends profits to speak to these people about how they are living and the people they are walking over. i don't beleive we are to actully leave it alone... i believe we are to engage like the OT profits did.

 

[WarriorAngel]

God gives to everyone...without noting who they are.
He loves everyone.

It is the judgement in the next life where those who are scoffers will discover how fleeting this life and their riches really are.

The wheat and tares grow up together, and God in His mercy will grant great graces and blessings...
Without condition.

It is sort of like ppl choosing when they want their rewards....

Now for the brief life...?
Or later in all of eternity..?

 

[HighRank]

God gives to everyone...without noting who they are.
He loves everyone.

It is the judgement in the next life where those who are scoffers will discover how fleeting this life and their riches really are.

The wheat and tares grow up together, and God in His mercy will grant great graces and blessings...
Without condition.

It is sort of like ppl choosing when they want their rewards....

Now for the brief life...?
Or later in all of eternity..?

Nicely said. I remember when it was a period during my life when I was younger where it seemed all the 'worldly' people around were always prospering but I wasn't. But, I remained faithful and patience waiting for his perfect timing. In today, I'm reaping the benefits of it.

 

[HighRank]

Read Malachi 4:14-18

14 "You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.' "

16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.

17 "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

 

[LLWHA]

God gives to everyone...without noting who they are.
He loves everyone.

It is the judgement in the next life where those who are scoffers will discover how fleeting this life and their riches really are.

The wheat and tares grow up together, and God in His mercy will grant great graces and blessings...
Without condition.

It is sort of like ppl choosing when they want their rewards....

Now for the brief life...?
Or later in all of eternity..?

I think a lot of the Elite today think if they can just hang on soon they will be able to live for hundreds of years.

With cloning etc they really think in a few more years they will live for like 500 years. Satan has tricked them into thinking they are going to get away with their evil.

 

[KCDAD]

I am reading John Stott's incredible book, "The Cross of Christ." I our day to day lives we often see evil and sinful people prosper. they keep on having all the luck while we do-gooders struggle. The good in society may have all sorts of problems like sikness low paid jobs or whatever.
Solution lies in page 208 of this book. He refers to Psalm 73 which illustrates their health and wealth etc. As you read through this psalm you discover that they will not remain un-punished. Stott puts it well. "The place on which they stand so self-confidently is more slippery than they realise, and one day they will fall, ruined by the righteous judgement of God." Then he refers to Acts 17 verses 30-31. Stott refers to God being patient enough to hold, "the door of oppertunity open a while longer."
There you have it. God has great patience with evil doers with plenty of oppertunity to repent.

Prosper? I guess it all depends upon your idea of prosperity doesn't it?

 

[lincolngreen50]

I am reading John Stott's incredible book, "The Cross of Christ." I our day to day lives we often see evil and sinful people prosper. they keep on having all the luck while we do-gooders struggle. The good in society may have all sorts of problems like sikness low paid jobs or whatever.
Solution lies in page 208 of this book. He refers to Psalm 73 which illustrates their health and wealth etc. As you read through this psalm you discover that they will not remain un-punished. Stott puts it well. "The place on which they stand so self-confidently is more slippery than they realise, and one day they will fall, ruined by the righteous judgement of God." Then he refers to Acts 17 verses 30-31. Stott refers to God being patient enough to hold, "the door of oppertunity open a while longer."
There you have it. God has great patience with evil doers with plenty of oppertunity to repent.

NKJV Rev 2:9
I know your works , tribulation and poverty but you are rich........
NKJV Rev3:17
Because you say`I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing`and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.

By the Word of God by these two statements.The wicked may be rich for a short time but cannot buy there own souls.

 

[stranger]

Revelation 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.