The Problem of the Prosperity of the Wicked

Today the Lord convicted me as I was reading through Proverbs 23 and 24.

"Let not thine heart envy sinners,
but be thou in the fear of the LORD
all the day long."
(Proverbs 23:17)

"Be not thou envious of evil men,
neither desire to be with them.
For their heart studieth destruction,
and their lips talk of mischief."
(Proverbs 24:1-2)

"Fret not thyself because of evil men,
neither be thou envious of the wicked;
For there shall be no reward to the evil man;
the lamp of the wicked shall be put out."
(Proverbs 24:19-20)

Living in the world today, especially in the prosperous United States, this is definitely a temptation. It is easy to envy the wicked when we hear about all the good things they have--money, nice homes, swimming pools, new expensive cars, good-looking spouses or boyfriends/girlfriends, many friends, public adulation, etc.--but these verses tell us that is not what God wants us to do. Rather, we are to fear the Lord all day long, not desire to be with evil people, not be fretting because of evil people, nor be envious of them. We must find our contentment and satisfaction in our God.

Asaph addresses the problem of the prosperity of the wicked in Psalm 73. Often it does seem that the ungodly have few problems or trials (or at least not as many as Christians), and that their prosperity only seems to increase, no matter how bad they are! He was envious of them, and thought he had "cleansed [his] heart in vain." But then he said,

"Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then understood I their end.
Surely, Thou didst set them in slippery places;
Thou castedst them down into destruction.
How are they brought into desolation,
as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors."
(Psalm 73:17-19)

Even though their lot in this life seems easy, when they die without God they will go to an awful end in hell. This life is all the heaven they will ever know. Contrast that with the end for the believer:

"Fret not thyself because of evildoers,
neither be thou envious
against the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
and wither like the green herb...
For evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait upon the LORD
shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be;
yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place,
and it shall not be.
But the meek shall inherit the earth,
and shall delight themselves in
the abundance of peace...
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
and He delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand."
(Psalm 37:1-2, 9-10, 23-24)