The Triumph of The Wicked Is Short-Lived
Don't you realize that from the beginning of time,
Ever since people were first placed on the earth,
The triumph of the wicked has been short lived
and the joy of the godless has been only temporary?
Though the pride of the godless reaches to the heavens
And their heads touch the clouds,
Yet they will vanish forever. . .
Those who knew them will ask, 'Where are they?'. . .
They enjoyed the sweet taste of wickedness,
Letting it melt under their tongue. . .
But suddenly the food in their bellies turns sour,
A poisonous venom in their stomach. . .
They will give back everything they worked for.
Their wealth will bring them no joy.
For they oppressed the poor and left them destitute.
They foreclosed on their homes.
They were always greedy and never satisfied.
Nothing remains of all the things they dreamed about. . .
In the midst of plenty, they will run into trouble
And be overcome by misery. Job 20:4-22
Ever since people were first placed on the earth,
The triumph of the wicked has been short lived
and the joy of the godless has been only temporary?
Though the pride of the godless reaches to the heavens
And their heads touch the clouds,
Yet they will vanish forever. . .
Those who knew them will ask, 'Where are they?'. . .
They enjoyed the sweet taste of wickedness,
Letting it melt under their tongue. . .
But suddenly the food in their bellies turns sour,
A poisonous venom in their stomach. . .
They will give back everything they worked for.
Their wealth will bring them no joy.
For they oppressed the poor and left them destitute.
They foreclosed on their homes.
They were always greedy and never satisfied.
Nothing remains of all the things they dreamed about. . .
In the midst of plenty, they will run into trouble
And be overcome by misery. Job 20:4-22
Job's friends were still questioning his innocence and relentlessly attacking his credibility. The things they spoke about did not rightfully apply to Job because they were not privy to the fact that Job was innocent but God was allowing the trials as a test. But if we take Job out of the picture, the assertions made by Job concerning the wicked and greedy are well attested to in life.
It is true:
The triumph of the wicked is usually short-lived and the joy of the godless is often temporary. Oftentimes, people behave rather arrogantly when they have positions of power, wealth, and authority. They act greedily, trample down on the rights of the underprivileged, oppress the poor with impunity, foreclose on their homes, and leave them destitute.
But suddenly, the wicked can run into trouble when their greedy and lawless schemes come to light. They often face long legal battles on which they spend all their wealth. Some often end up in disgrace and imprisonment. Their families and legacies are shattered and all that they have worked for vanishes. Wickedness and greed are simply not worth it. One can attain wealth and power through genuine hard work and principled living without resorting to treachery.
But the sad truth is that humans never seem to learn from history or even the daily happenings in society. We recklessly embark on the same wicked acts that God admonishes us against only to find ourselves assailed by horror and trouble. May you and I pay attention to the admonitions of Scripture and shun every form of wickedness. Like David, may our prayers be, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139: 23-24 NKJV).
It is true:
The triumph of the wicked is usually short-lived and the joy of the godless is often temporary. Oftentimes, people behave rather arrogantly when they have positions of power, wealth, and authority. They act greedily, trample down on the rights of the underprivileged, oppress the poor with impunity, foreclose on their homes, and leave them destitute.
But suddenly, the wicked can run into trouble when their greedy and lawless schemes come to light. They often face long legal battles on which they spend all their wealth. Some often end up in disgrace and imprisonment. Their families and legacies are shattered and all that they have worked for vanishes. Wickedness and greed are simply not worth it. One can attain wealth and power through genuine hard work and principled living without resorting to treachery.
But the sad truth is that humans never seem to learn from history or even the daily happenings in society. We recklessly embark on the same wicked acts that God admonishes us against only to find ourselves assailed by horror and trouble. May you and I pay attention to the admonitions of Scripture and shun every form of wickedness. Like David, may our prayers be, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139: 23-24 NKJV).
Prayer: Father, please help me to eschew every form of greed, evil, and wickedness that might seek to raise itself in my heart. Amen.