Why Do Good Things Happen To Bad People?

Psalm 73:3-5, 16-17, 25: "For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man . . . . When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny . . . . Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you."

"Why Do Good Things Happen To Bad People?" . . . . This timeless question continues to present itself to us as we live our lives. As we struggle with life's tragedies and tribulations, we often look at others who we believe not to be people of integrity, basking in their prosperity, and we ask the "question." And the more we continue to ponder this incongruity, we can find ourselves sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss of despondency. Some of us can even get to the point that the writer of Psalm 73, Asaph, found himself . . . ready to throw in the towel and simply give up.

Asaph was a key Levite during the reign of David, and he was called to lead Israel in worship (see I Chronicles 16:5). There was a point, however, when Asaph took his eyes off of the Lord and started looking at his circumstances. Asaph knew that the Lord was good (Psalm 73:1); but he began to envy the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73:3). Even though Asaph knew that these people did not live lives of faithfulness to the Lord, they seemed to have the Midas touch. Everything that they put their hands to seemed to prosper. Asaph despaired so much that he started thinking that his faithfulness to the Lord was mere vanity (Psalm 73:13). As he tried to make sense of his circumstances, Asaph found himself at one of those pivotal points in life that could have spiraled him into bitterness and resentment toward the Lord for his circumstances.

Then the spiritual leader experienced a personal renaissance when he encountered the Lord again. God reminded Asaph that though He through His longsuffering was delaying the judgment against these wicked men, the day would come when their eternal destiny would be thrust upon them. Even now, as they were gorging themselves on their affluence, the Lord had placed them on a slippery slope that was leading them toward their destruction. Asaph then was able to regain a proper perspective that though this life is not free of disappointment for the righteous, God would restore the joy of blessedness for the righteous in eternity. Asaph also was reminded that the Lord was with him through life, and the Lord was willing to hold Asaph's hand through the journey, although the path seemed perilous, difficult, and unfair (Psalm 73:23).

Asaph then had some repenting to do. He understood that his thinking was "senseless" and "ignorant" (Psalm 73:22). The Levite longed for Heaven, and he recognized that this earth had nothing of desire other than the Lord Almighty (Psalm 73:25). In the end, Asaph knew that it was good simply to be near God. No longer was he frustrated with his circumstances or jealous that others seemed to have better "luck" than he had; rather, Asaph determined to make God his sole refuge and longed to share the goodness of the Lord with others.

This is such a good word for us. How often have we become discouraged because we've looked at our circumstances (and those of others around us) and started to complain that we don't get the "breaks" in life? Our problem is not the Lord; rather it is the fact that we have taken our eyes off the Lord and placed them upon our circumstances. The path of the righteous gets brighter and clearer each day, the more we look to the light source ahead (God) rather than our circumstances (Proverbs 4:18). If you're not seeing clearly, maybe you need to look back toward the Light!

What we need to do is be reminded that the "Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness" (Psalm 86:15). We need to celebrate the Lord, for "out of His great love and mercy He has saved us" (Ephesians 2:4-5). Rather than having a myopic view of our reality, we need to understand that God has eternity in mind when He will bless His redeemed beyond measure. When we by faith trust in Him, irrespective of the circumstances that we face, we will "not fear bad news (but be) steadfast, trusting in the LORD" (Psalm 112:7).

Notice that the words of encouragement to press on in this life come from the Scriptures. This is not mere happenstance; rather it is God's gift to us. The Bible is God's source of inspiration for us as we await our reclamation. It is the power source that fuels our faith and gives us truth to live lives of righteousness. If we are not in the Word, we lose several key elements of our spiritual armour that help us fight off the flaming arrows of the Evil One. Without a daily feasting upon the Word, we lose our first weapon of defense, the shield of faith, that comes from hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17; Ephesians 6:16). We also lose the belt of truth, and we will find ourselves caught with our spiritual pants down . . . which is not a pretty sight (Ephesians 6:14). And our breastplate of righteousness is so weakened that the darts of the Devil can pierce our hearts and bring utter discouragement (Ephesians 6:14). Therefore, we must delight ourselves in His Word, otherwise we will "perish in our affliction" (Psalm 119:92).

If you find yourself struggling in depression because of your disappointments in this life, then "set your heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4). Also celebrate the Lord who "daily bears our burdens" (Psalm 68:19). We don't have to traverse this life without the Sovereign One. He is with us every step of the way, and He will guide us until the day that He introduces us to "an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for us . . . . (which is something we can) greatly rejoice, though now for a little while (we) have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials" (I Peter 1:4-6).