Why does God let good things happen to bad people?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

God allows good things to happen to bad people because earthly blessings—such as wealth, success, comfort, or provision—are not always indicators of moral favor or divine approval. The Bible teaches that God’s provision, like sunlight and rain, is often given indiscriminately to both the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:45; Acts 14:17). From an earthly perspective, it can appear that the wicked prosper while the faithful suffer, but this is only a partial view of God’s work and timing. The Bible emphasizes that ultimate justice and reward operate on an eternal scale: those who trust in God will receive forgiveness and eternal life with Him (John 3:16) while those who reject Him will face eternal consequences (Luke 16:25-26; Romans 12:19; 1 Peter 4:12-13). Understanding this helps believers shift focus from temporary comparisons to living for God and trusting that His perfect wisdom and timing govern all circumstances. God's goodness is not proven by material gain but by His presence with us, His grace that saves us, and His promise to make all things right in the end.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Ecclesiastes 9:2-3 notes that both the righteous and the wicked share the same fate in life, and that the righteous do not always receive immediate reward for their righteousness.
• Job 21:7-13 emphasizes that the wicked often prosper: "Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them." God’s natural blessings and the course of life are sometimes experienced by both the righteous and the wicked, independent of their moral standing.
• We often only see the good that happens to bad people rather than the entire situation. For example, Asaph noted in Psalm 73:4-5, "For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind." In his discouraged situation, Asaph only saw the good things the wicked experienced instead of both their blessings and struggles.
• In Malachi 2:17, God's people were rebuked for questioning God's goodness upon those who do evil. We read, "You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, 'How have we wearied him?' By saying, 'Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.' Or by asking, 'Where is the God of justice?'" God's blessings often apply to all people. Our view of the blessing of the wicked is often very limited. Further, when we question God's blessing upon the wicked, we are looking only from an earthly perspective.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Matthew 5:45 says, “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” God’s provision—like sunlight and rain—is often given indiscriminately to both righteous and unrighteous people. Acts 14:17 adds, "Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." Good does come even to bad people but not because they are rewarded for what they do.
• While it may sometimes appear that good things happen to bad people, as if they are still getting what they want, God’s justice and ultimate plan operate on a different timeline, and His purposes are often beyond our immediate understanding. Although the wicked might get away with their sin and appear to receive good, Romans 12:19 says that justice will come. Jesus teaches in Luke 16:25-26 that God will judge us all in eternity.
• 1 Peter 4:12-13 encourages believers to endure trials with faith, trusting that God will bring justice and comfort. While temporary blessings may seem to favor the wicked, God’s righteous plan and ultimate justice ensure that His purposes prevail in the end.
• The blessings the wicked experience are limited only to this life. In the account of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man was asking for help in his torment. He was reminded that good things took place during his life on earth while Lazarus lived in suffering. Abraham told the rich man, "remember that you in your lifetime received your good things" (Luke 16:25). In eternity, God's children will enjoy eternal joy while those who are not Christ followers will experience eternal separation from God.
• The person who trusts in Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins will experience eternal life (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). This ultimate blessing of living in God's presence for eternity far outweighs any situation that appears unfair or unjust in this world.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

It is not wrong to consider why God blesses those who do evil, but it is important to recognize that such observations give only an incomplete picture of God’s work in the world. Earthly blessings—wealth, success, comfort, or influence—do not always reflect God’s approval or the ultimate condition of a person’s heart. While it may appear that evil people prosper, God’s justice operates on a broader and eternal scale that we cannot fully see. Instead of questioning God’s fairness, we are called to trust in His perfect wisdom, love, and ultimate judgment. We are called to keep living for God and what is good, even if it appears that bad people are prospering.

We are not to focus on worldly comparisons but on our own walk with God, cultivating patience, faith, and integrity. Practically, when we encounter examples of seemingly unfair prosperity, we can respond by praying for the hearts of those who misuse blessings, using our own resources and influence to serve others, and grounding our hope in God’s promises rather than temporary appearances. Ultimately, understanding that God’s timing and perspective differ from ours, and that He will judge all people, gives us peace and motivates us to live faithfully, knowing that true reward comes from Him and not from the fleeting fortunes of this world.

UNDERSTAND

• Earthly blessings don’t always reflect God’s favor, as both the righteous and wicked receive them.
• God’s justice and reward are ultimately eternal, not based on temporary prosperity.
• Believers can trust God’s timing and justice and focus on faithfully living for Him.

REFLECT

• How do you react when you see someone who does wrong receiving success or comfort?
• How can you focus on your own faithfulness instead of comparing your life to others?
• How does understanding God’s ultimate justice and eternal reward change the way you view temporary blessings?

ENGAGE

• How can we encourage each other to trust God’s timing when the wicked seem to prosper?
• How can we live faithfully for God, even when life feels unfair?
• How does the perspective of eternal reward help us respond to envy, frustration, or discouragement?