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Why Do The Righteous Suffer & The Wicked Prosper?: Text

The righteous may suffer in this life while the wicked seem to prosper, but this is only a temporary mystery that will be understood later. God allows both prosperity and suffering according to His purposes, and sometimes uses hardship to test the righteous. While worldly gains do not equal godliness, the righteous will receive their ultimate reward in heaven. Suffering in this life is often God's chastening for our benefit.

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Thomas Moore
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536 views1 page

Why Do The Righteous Suffer & The Wicked Prosper?: Text

The righteous may suffer in this life while the wicked seem to prosper, but this is only a temporary mystery that will be understood later. God allows both prosperity and suffering according to His purposes, and sometimes uses hardship to test the righteous. While worldly gains do not equal godliness, the righteous will receive their ultimate reward in heaven. Suffering in this life is often God's chastening for our benefit.

Uploaded by

Thomas Moore
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

WHY DO THE RIGHTEOUS SUFFER & THE WICKED PROSPER?

TEXT:
Jer. 12:1 & Following, Job 1 & 2 (the entire book of Job), II Tim. 3:12

INTRODUCTION:
a. This mystery evokes many questions.
b. This mystery must have inspired WB Stevens and JR Baxter to write: "Farther Along" &
"Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder why it should be thus all the day long, while
there are others living about us, never molested though in the wrong. (chorus) Farther
along we'll know all about it, farther along we'll understand why, cheer up, my brother, live
in the sunshine, we'll understand it all by and by.
c. Early Christians understood persecutions and trials will come.
Illustration: Consider Paul (Acts 21:11-13) and others.

PROPOSITION:
We consider why the wicked prosper, do the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer.
I. Why Do the Wicked Prosper and Do They Really?
a. Some degree of prosperity open to all.
1. Resources of universe for all
2. Sun shines on all...rain...Matt. 5:45
b. God puts kings on thrones according to His will and purposes. Illustrations: Pharaoh
(Rom. 9:17 & Ex. 9:16, Hitler, Stalin (Consider his last days as recorded by his
daughter.) The Scripture has something to say about such persons and nations in Psalm
9:17.
II. Why Do the Righteous Suffer?
a. Righteous prosper in earthly things, however, gain is not godliness (nor the evidence
thereof) I Tim. 6:5-12. Illustrations: Jesus (Luke 9:58), Paul (Phil. 3:8-14)
b. Sometimes the righteous are tested. Illustration: Job (recommend reading the entire
Book of Job). Chapters 1 & 2 tell how and why the tests came to Job. We are often tested
in a similar manner.
c. Be grateful for the chastising of God (Heb. 12:5-11).
d. The righteous will be rewarded (Matt 5:10-12, 19:27).

CONCLUSION:
Your reward awaits. (I Pet. 4:12-16, II Tim. 2:12, Rom 8:17)

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