Why does God allow the Wicked to Prosper?

This morning we are going to look at what God’s Word has to tell us about how He governs the world in terms of His Justice. I want to tell you up front that this message is more complex than some, so I want to encourage you to stay focused as we go through this together.

Having made that statement, I realize that many of you are already considering mentally “checking out,” but I want you to stay with me. These concepts are important, and they deal with real life. The struggles that Job’s three comforters dealt with and the questions they asked are very similar to ours

Think about this for a minute: Job declares himself to be righteous, but bad things happen; his friends jump to the conclusion that he has some hidden sin in his life. Are we any different? So and so is going through a hard time (loss of job, teen-age / young adult children out of control, involved in a wreck, etc) so there must be sin in his or her life!

The answer to WHY we are guilty of this is found in an incomplete understanding of the Justice of God. So lets go to God’s Word and gain a better understanding of His Justice and how He chooses to govern His creation.

The answer to the WHY question is found in an incomplete understanding of the Justice of God. The main section of the Book of Job (Chapters 4 -31) is a record of main characters trying to understand what God is doing in Job’s life. The three friends are trying to prove that God is punishing Job due to secret sin in his life. Job is trying to show his personal integrity proves that God is being unjust.

Turn with me to the 4th Chapter of the Book of Job. READ

Using Eliphaz’s comments as our starting point we are going to look at several different Scriptures to help us understand what is called the RETRIBUTION PRINCIPLE of justice. The following outline will be helpful in staying focused:

The answer to the WHY question is found in an incomplete understanding of the Justice of God. The main section of the Book of Job (Chapters 4 -31) is a record of main characters trying to understand what God is doing in Job’s life. The three friends are trying to prove that God is punishing Job due to secret sin in his life. Job is trying to show his personal integrity proves that God is being unjust.

1. We are going to examine the Biblical support for the Retribution Principle

2. We are going to see if there are any exceptions to the Retribution Principle

3. We are going to look at Application. How does this Principle impact our lives as modern believers in the 21st century.

Looking at gives us our first direct encounter with the Principle as it is revealed in the book of Job and leads to our first point of examining its biblical foundations

The Retribution Principle ()

The main section of the Book of Job (Chapters 4 -31) is a record of main characters trying to understand what God is doing in Job’s life. The three friends are trying to prove that God is punishing Job due to secret sin in his life. Job is trying to show his personal integrity proves that God is being unjust.

The main section of the Book of Job (Chapters 4 -31) is a record of main characters trying to understand what God is doing in Job’s life. The three friends are trying to prove that God is punishing Job due to secret sin in his life. Job is trying to show his personal integrity proves that God is being unjust.

All four of them are missing the point: it is God’s policies that are on trial, not Job’s integrity. The Accuser is stating that the only reason anyone worships God is because God blesses those who serve Him. On the other side is God declaring that He is worthy of worship, and those who serve Him can and will trust Him, regardless of the material benefits He bestows.

With these thoughts as foundational, we are going to examine the Scriptural basis for the Retribution Principle, and then make application for how we as believers are to relate to the issues of pain and suffering.

The Retribution Principle ()

Explanation: These are the words from the first of Job’s three friends that will speak to his situation. In this first of three rounds, Eliphaz is the one who opens the dialogue. Eliphaz begins by reminding Job of his previous position as a spiritual leader for others (vv 3-4), but then chastises Job for his current handling of his own suffering (v. 5). Eliphaz then begins his instruction to Job in v. 6 by focusing his attention back to God. Eliphaz is going to expound in what is known as the Retribution Principle, so he is directing Job to reflect on his relationship with God. By highlighting Job’s integrity before God, Eliphaz is actually trying to get Job to think about where he went wrong. Eliphaz seemingly strengthens his position by expanding on the Retribution Principle (vv. 7-9) as support for his conclusions.

Definition: I have mentioned the Retribution Principle several times, but I have yet to clearly define it.

Simply stated, the Principle declares that the Righteous prosper while the Wicked suffer. Another thought that often comes from this is: if a person is doing well, he or she is righteous, but if the person is suffering, that means he or she is wicked.

Argument: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar operate from the Principle throughout their talks with Job. Job maintains his innocence, but all three of them refuse to leave their assumption of Job’s hidden sin. They know this principle (or they think they know), and based on Job’s hard times, they can think of no other answer!

The events of the book of Job are some of the oldest found in Scripture, and all of these men probably lived before any of the Bible had been written. So a fair question would be this: Does the Bible support what they knew as the Retribution Principle?

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. ()

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. ()

Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die. ()

Moving to the New Testament reveals further support for the Principle:

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ()

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ()

Application: Examine Scripture with Scripture. Be a continuing student of the Word. There are many other passages that support the Principle, but these show it is valid to expect life to follow this pattern. This makes the next point even more important: are there any exceptions?

Application: Examine Scripture with Scripture. Be a continuing student of the Word. There are many other passages that support the Principle, but these show it is valid to expect life to follow this pattern. This makes the next point even more important: are there any exceptions?

Exceptions to the Retribution Principle

Explanation: The timing of the consequences of one’s actions is of major concern for Job and his three friends. His “comforters” do not seem to allow for delays in God’s carrying out His Justice on the wicked. Eliphaz basically states that the results happen immediately (), and the other two have similar positions. Job is upset by this line of reasoning because in his experience, he has seen the prosperity of the wicked and it upsets him ().

Illustrate: The Kim family dynasty of North Korea. Kim II Sung, ruled 46 years (1948-94) until his death at age 82. His son, Kim Jong Il, was dictator for 17years (1994-2011) until his death at age 70. The grandson, Kim Yong Un, has been Supreme Leader for the past 8 years, and he is only 35 years old now. The Kim family has turned N. Korea into a starving wasteland, full of human rights violations, while they personally live in luxury. Under the Kim family N. Korea has become a rogue nation and Kim Jong Un is currently conducting ballistic nuclear tests.

Argument: While Job’s friends are focusing on the immediate fulfillment of God’s justice, Job is troubled because life doesn’t reflect what his friends are saying. And the Kim family of North Korea is just one modern example: there are literally hundreds of other examples that reflect this truth (Angel & America and their mother; Nicole Fox Moore; cancer among faithful godly church members)

This was a pressing issue for Job and his three comforters, and it can be a major issue for us as well, especially if we don’t have a fully developed biblical way of looking at the world.

Let’s look at this first reality in the exception block:

God doesn’t always settle acounts in this world. Job and his three friends were not privileged to have a complete Bible, but we do. And the NT reveals that God will dispense His justice in such a way that the wicked will suffer the consequences for their actions.

Turn to [Read the passage - make comments as to no one getting by with anything as it relates to the judgment of God

Turn to [Read passage - this is the GWT judgment and this will be the final dispensing of God’s justice on the wicked]

If we know these truths we will be more prepared to allow God to deal with people in this life. So much of the time we want to personally witness a person getting what they deserve. [Kind of like the Instant Karma videos on You Tube] When we act like this we are allowing our own sinful desires to be entertained. At the same time we are exercising unbelief in God’s power and/or His timing. God is the One who commands us to leave vengeance to Him ()

The Second exception: The Innocent can and do Suffer

As we have already mentioned, Eliphaz and his counterparts, along with Job, were all ignorant of the heavenly council (chapters 1 and 2). They did not possess all of the necessary information, and as a result, they reached the wrong conclusion. It is obvious to us, however, that Job did not do anything wrong!

Two other OT figures also experienced pain and suffering of which they were blameless: Joseph and Daniel. Both of these men were godly servants who were threatened with death, cast into prison, and lied about. They were not responsible for their situations.

These historical servants who suffered in the service of God were simply forerunners to the sufferings of Jesus. As the ONLY truly innocent and blameless person who ever lived, Jesus was not exempt from pain and suffering. He was lied about, rejected, tortured, and killed for healing people and teaching the truth of God.

Application: Joseph endured 20 years of suffering before God revealed to him the purpose for his ordeal and trials (cf ). Jesus, being the Eternal Second Person of the Trinity, was fully aware of the reasons for His sufferings, but God did reveal the purpose to other believers (Acts 2:22-40)

Remember this: Job never found out the purpose for His sufferings, and it is highly likely that neither will we. We CAN live and serve without knowing, and our response is to be like Job’s: trust in His goodness, regardless of understanding His Justice

Now that we have examined the Biblical basis for this principle, along with exceptions, let’s finish by asking what the Principle has to do with modern Christianity

Application of the Retribution Principle for Modern Christianity

Explanation: Giving serious, biblically-based thought to this is important because of the wide-spread nature of the Prosperity Gospel in America. It is almost impossible to turn on the TV or listen to the radio without encountering the false teaching of this movement. The Prosperity Gospel goes by other names such as “Health and Wealth” and “Name it and Claim it,” but whatever the name, the teaching is a distortion of Scripture, and it is deadly in its impact on believers.

I am going to make a broad description of this teaching in simple terms while realizing a brief summary is not sufficient. But to start: the Prosperity Gospel teaches that God wants to always bless you in this life, and He wants to bless you right now. It is very much possible for all Christians to experience financial success and to walk in material blessings. All you need is the power of your faith. If you believe it, you will receive it. And, on the other side, if you are experiencing pain & suffering such as poor health, no job or low-paying job, being forced to drive an old car or take the bus, it is your fault! God certainly doesn’t want this for you, and if you only have stronger faith you too can experience your best life now!

Regardless of what heretics such as Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, and Benny Hinn declare, God does not always desire that His children walk in prosperity while in this life. Friends, I know we have the Bible in English, but it is not an American Bible - it is God’s Word for all peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations. The truth of God’s Word is truth, regardless of geographical location. Can you see the terrible effects of teaching the Prosperity Gospel in Haitti - the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere? Can you hear the cruelty of telling an Haittian that God doesn’t want him to live in this hut, but to live in a mansion. And if he settles for the hut, it’s his fault.

Consider telling a Christian pastor in a Muslim country such as Iran or Iraq who is spending years in prison for preaching the Gospel of Jesus that God doesn’t want him to spend another day behind bars under terrible conditions. Tell him that it’s his fault he’s there; tell him if he has enough faith, God will deliver him.

Application: To avoid errors that the Prosperity Teachers promote, we need a solid grounding in the Word. Only by knowing God’s entire truth will we be kept safe from false teachers. It is a sad commentary on how many who consider themselves conservative Christian believers end up being caught in the false teachings of the Prosperity Gospel.

The human heart is easily misled, and the Retribution Principle looms large in our thinking. We think that if we are suffering, if we are unhappy about our situation in any way, we can change it simply by embracing a stronger faith about a happier future.

Instead, you CAN focus on worshiping and serving God no matter what your circumstances. You CAN trust God that He knows what He is doing in your life, even if He chooses not to tell you. You CAN be faithful even in your hard times.