Why The Wicked Prosper and the Righteous Suffer

“When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time” (Matt 8:28-29)?

Subsequently, Jesus cast out these demons out of the men and allowed them to go into a herd of swine. What I want you to focus on in this lesson is the question asked by these demons: “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time”?

Satan and his angels know that once life here on earth is over, they will be tormented continually in hell. “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev 20:15).

They also knew that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. In fact, as James said, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble (Jam 2:19-20)!

Most who know the scriptures, yet choose not to obey the gospel of Christ, do so because they know trials and persecutions arise after becoming a Christian. The apostle Paul after listing all of his trials wrote: “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12).

Many sinners go through trials and persecutions in their life, but none of them because they are a Christian. The apostle Peter clarified the persecution Paul conveyed when he wrote, “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part, He is blasphemed, but on your part, He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Pet 4:14-19).

There are many in the world who falsely believe, and some in the churches of Christ, that if a Christian does good God will bless him, but if he does evil, God will persecute him. The apostle Peter also clarified this false doctrine when he wrote, “For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet 2:19-23).

Jesus made one thing abundantly clear while he was here on earth, that the servant was not above his master (Matt 10:24). If the world hated and persecuted Him, they would of necessity also hate and persecute us (Jn 15:18-20). He also stated that if we refused to take up our cross we could not be His disciple (a Christian) (Lk 14:27).

Jesus in his parable of the sower said, “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles” (Matt 13:20,21).

It is hard to accept for many that God rewards the wicked while persecuting his servants. That is why so many reject the Word of God and turn to the doctrine and commandments of men (Matt 15:7-9). As the prophet Jeremiah wrote concerning Israel, “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you! But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble” (Jer 44:16,17,18).

This is why so many, even as the demons Jesus cast out of the two possessed men, have nothing to do with Jesus and His Word. They know that persecutions come with obedience to the gospel and doctrine of Christ. They know this because when they do evil, even as Israel who worshipped idols, good things happened to them. This is why false teachers prosper and gospel preachers suffer.

Job reasoned, “Why do the wicked live and become old, yes, become mighty in power?” (Job 21:7). He continued to illustrate how the wicked prosper despite not serving God. “They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.  Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?” (Job 21:13-15).

The psalmist David also was perplexed as to why God would treat his servants in this manner. He reasoned in Psalms 73 concerning the wicked who had more than his heart could wish (v7).  Then he went into the sanctuary of God and understood their end (v17). “Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes, so, Lord, when You awake, you shall despise their image” (Psa 73:18-20).

I leave you with these words of wisdom concerning what God has in mind for the righteous and the wicked. “The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright” (Psa 11:5-7). Yes, the Lord tries the righteous for a little while but as Peter said, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Pet 5:8-10). Then James writes the most beautiful conclusion to this matter that Christians could ever imagine: “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jam 1:12).