Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People? I. Introduction A. Let us consider a perennial question B. Why do good things happen to bad people? C. We often ask such questions in song 1. Songs like "Farther Along" ask the question of why the wicked prosper 2. Answers seem elusive, difficult D. Nevertheless, a good question to consider: why, indeed, do good things happen to bad people? II. An Old Question A. Our question here is not a new one-- instead, it is a theme seen often in Scripture B. Asaph considered the question in Psalm 73 1. vv. 2-3: almost stumbled when considered how the wicked prosper 2. vv. 4-12: description of their lives, how all seems well with them despite evil 3. vv. 13-15: Asaph feels righteousness is vain 4. vv. 16-20: in sanctuary, Asaph understands their end, how the LORD will judge them 5. Asaph comes to the realization that even if the wicked do not get their comeuppance in life, they will at death C. Job also ponders the question 1. Despite what his friends say, Job affirms that the wicked do prosper (Job 21:7-14) 2. Job 24: they sin willfully without judgment 3. Job knows that there is wisdom in fearing God and turning from wickedness (Job 28:28), but he despairs of judgment of the wicked in life 4. He is silenced in regards to all these speculations when shown the majesty, omnipotence, omniscience of God (Job 38-41; cf. Job 42:1-6) D. The Preacher also considers such things 1. He sees oppression in life, and yet no comfort (Ecclesiastes 4:1-2) 2. All reach the same fate, whether righteous or wicked (Ecclesiastes 9:1-3) 3. The very question of why good things happen to bad people considered as vanity, something empty (Ecclesiastes 8:14) E. The matter of why good things happen to bad people, therefore, something considered in depth 3000 years ago 1. All will die 2. After death, the wicked will reap what they have sown 3. No explanation for why wicked prosper 4. Dwelling on the question considered as vanity III. Continuing the Examination A. So why do good things happen to bad people? B. Old Testament authors recognize that it happens, but not much in way of explanation C. What about the New Testament? D. Jesus speaks about it in Matthew 5:44-45 1. Indication that sun rises on evil and good 2. God sends rain on just and unjust alike E. Again, statement of reality-- but why? F. Wisdom in what the Preacher said (Ecclesiastes 8:14) 1. Just as there is no explanation ever given for why bad things happen to good people, so no coherent explanation is given why, precisely, good things happen to bad people 2. We can know from both Testaments that God will right all wrongs on the day of Judgment, after death (Psalm 73:16-20, Romans 2:5-10) 3. But when it comes to understanding why it is that God allows good things to happen to the wicked, such is one of those mysteries that God understands that we do not! 4. We can trust that even if God's judgment is not executed quickly, it will be executed (cf. Ecclesiastes 8:11-13)! IV. Good News: Good Things Happen to Bad People! A. In all honesty, the question cannot really be resolved to our satisfaction 1. We recognize that many times bad things do happen to bad people 2. We must come to terms with the reality that none of us "deserves" to have anything happen to us 3. Yes, good things can happen to good people, bad things can happen to bad people, but bad things can happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people, and that's reality! 4. We also must understand that because of sin and free will, people undeservedly suffer the consequences of sin, likewise, people can undeservedly reap the benefits of someone else's righteousness 5. That is precisely what Jesus is commanding His followers to do in Matthew 5:44-48! 6. Nevertheless, in the end, we cannot really know why good things happen to bad people in any given circumstance-- but God does B. We can, however, glory in the fact that good things happen to bad people! 1. Wait-- how could we glory in such things?!? 2. Normally, when such questions are considered, "we" are generally the "good people," and it is those "others" who are the "bad people" 3. Yet, in reality, who among us is really good? 4. Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 3:9-23 5. We all have sinned-- we all have fallen short of the glory of God! 6. Thus, we have all been "bad" people at various points in our lives! 7. Do any of us wish that we had reaped all the evil that we sowed at one point or at many points? 8. After all, if only bad things happened to bad people, what would have been our fate? C. Thus we see the value of patience, grace, and mercy! 1. Patience: suffering long 2. Grace: unmerited favor-- receiving what was not deserved 3. Mercy: not receiving what is deserved! D. This is God's message to us through the cross of Jesus Christ! 1. If bad people got only bad things, then we would all be hell bound without a prayer 2. Yet Jesus died while we were yet sinners, allowing us to be reconciled to God (Romans 5:6-11) 3. God has been patient toward us, giving us the time to realize that we have sinned and need the redemption that comes through Jesus (2 Peter 3:9)! 4. Through the cross and the blessings of life, God has shown us grace and mercy (Romans 3:24, Ephesians 2:4-9) E. And since we have received mercy, we are to show mercy toward others! 1. Matthew 5:38-48, Luke 6:27-36, Ephesians 4:32 2. The logic is clear: if God has been merciful, compassionate, loving toward us sinners who have rebelled against Him, if we are to be godly, we must also be merciful, compassionate, and loving to those who sin! F. Therefore, in the end, the question ought to be moot 1. If it were not for good things happening to bad people, we would be hell bound! 2. Instead of questioning why it is so, we must accomplish it, and do good to bad people! 3. Thus God has done for us; if we do it for others, and they see Christ's love, they also may turn from wickedness to righteousness! V. Conclusion A. Why do good things happen to bad people? 1. We cannot know in specific circumstances why it is so 2. As long as they live, God is showing patience, giving them opportunity to repent 3. If they die without repentance, they will be condemned for their sin (Romans 2:5-10, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9) B. The question should not cause us too much distress! 1. If good things did not happen to bad people, we all would be in difficulty! 2. We must be thankful that God saw fit to do good things even for bad people, or else we would be without redemption and have no hope of salvation! 3. So others who act wickedly right now prosper: let it not trouble us, for but by the grace of God, so we would be! C. Let us be thankful for God's patience, kindness, love, grace, and mercy, shown primarily through the death of Christ for our sins! D. Furthermore, let us show patience, kindness, love, grace, and mercy even to those who do wickedly to show that we are Christ's and that more may be saved! E. Invitation/songbook