WHY DO GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD PEOPLE? -- PSALMS 73:1-18

Last week we looked at the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” This week I want to reverse the question. Instead of why do bad things happen to good people, I want us to think about why do good things happen to bad people.

It is very easy when we are trying to live right, to look around us and see people openly living in sin who seem to get along better in this world than we do. It isn’t uncommon to see known drug dealers get away with it for long periods of time without ever being caught.

Often see people who cheat on their taxes or cheat in business, but still seem to prosper. We see those who are immoral, cheaters in their marriage still rise to the top in the political arena or even the business arena. It often seems we make heroes of the ones living in rebellion to what is right.

Why is that the case? Solomon said, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Ecclesiastes 8:11

GOOD COMES ON BAD FOLKS BECAUSE GOD DOESN’T SETTLE HIS ACCOUNTS AT THE END OF EACH DAY.

a. Notice David’s picture of the wicked, which caused him to be envious of

them in their prosperity and arrogance. (Psalm 78)

i. No pains in their death and their body is fat. Vs. 4

ii. No trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like mankind. Vs. 5

iii. They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; they speak from on

high. Vs. 8

iv. They are always at ease, they have increased in wealth. Vs. 12

b. To David it seemed that he had kept his heart pure in vain. Vs. 13

c. When he pondered all this it was troublesome to him, “Until he came into

the sanctuary of God; then he perceived their end. Vs. 16,17

d. Surely God has set them in a slippery place. Vs. 18

e. Imagine what would happen with shoplifting if every time someone

shoplifted, they were caught and had their right hand cut off.

f. What would happen to those who manufacture drugs to sell to children or

unsuspecting adults if every time they made the drugs to sell, they were

caught and put into hard labor for the next 30 years?

g. God wants people to change their lives and come to Him. But He doesn’t

want folks to give their lives to Him only out of fear of hell. Romans 2:5

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD PEOPLE TO SHOW GOD’S LOVE FOR ALL. Matthew 5:43-48

a. We are challenged to love our neighbor as ourselves.

b. In application we are challenged to love our enemies, bless those who

curse us and pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us.

c. That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun

rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the

unjust. Vs. 45

d. If we do good only to those who are good, we miss the Lord. Even tax

collectors are good to those who are good to them and greet those who

greet them.

e. We are to be perfect as the Father is perfect by loving even the sinner, the

unlovable. Vs. 48

f. In the doing good even to the wicked God is giving them a witness that it

might turn them to Him in time. Acts 14:17

g. All of one blood and God has before determined their preappointed times

and the boundaries of their habitation, so that they should seek the Lord, in

hope they might grope after Him and find Him, though He is not far from

each one of us. Acts 17:24-28

III. SATAN BRINGS GOOD THINGS TO BAD PEOPLE TO KEEP THEM IN

THE EVIL.

a. By giving good things to bad people convinces them to trust in their

riches. Luke 12:13-21

b. Get to thinking that life consist in the abundance of things we have or

possessions. Vs. 15

c. Thought he could satisfy the soul with what he had.

d. Thus Satan claimed his soul and he lived like a fool.

e. Satan brings temporary pleasure in sin and makes us think it will last

forever if we just stay with Him. Hebrews 11:24,25

f. He shouts to the world how much fun is in immorality. Now whole

countries are losing population to aids. People even quoted, as saying

can’t live without immoral relationships. Satan must be thrilled with such

attitudes. World is paying a heavy price.

g. Need to see where the evil and ungodly life ultimately leads. Romans

6:23

SOMETIMES WHAT SEEMS GOOD TO THOSE LOOKING ON MAY NOT BE.

a. Very prosperity, which causes some to envy, can become more a source of

pain than pleasure. Hoard it. Make it my god.

b. The fun which evil seems to have often a place to hide from their empty

hearts. Must keep laughing, adding to the worldly pleasure, because

simple joys of like are being missed.

c. Only God can see the inside of a person. Nothing hidden from His view.

Hebrews 4:13

d. He will ultimately judge by truth, not what we think or feel.

CONCLUSION:

Real joy will last all through life and eternity. Are you living in such a relationship with God that you can face even death without the fear of losing all that is good?

Last time updated: Thursday July 10, 2008 10:21 AM