Job's experiences can be perplexing, seemingly confirming the old saying: the righteous suffer, the wicked prosper. We often encounter such unfair treatment in our lives. What is the root of the problem? If we are undergoing such unfairness, how should we view it? Is there a way to avoid such experiences?

Questions for Reflection

Job went from riches to rags overnight. How do you perceive such unfair treatment?

How did Job react when faced with these trials? Did his reaction change his circumstances?

Have you ever experienced such unfairness? How did you resolve the confusion it brought?

The Righteous Suffer, the Wicked Prosper

The suffering of the righteous and the prosperity of the wicked is among the most perplexing observations. It can indeed lead to much confusion, but we must not deny the fact. If you are not concerned about these matters, you will not be perplexed, and your life will likely be happier.

However, if your life is arduous, you tend to observe the events around you and begin to wonder: Why do I suffer so much despite doing nothing wrong?

Acknowledge the Facts We See

As believers, we must avoid falling into the trap of denying reality. When something happens, acknowledge it. Indeed, we see some who continue to struggle even after believing, perhaps even more so than those who do not.

One day, a sister's father asked me why her uncle had experienced so many misfortunes after believing. I said: Mr. Zhang, although I didn't witness it personally, I know what you are saying is true. This statement laid the foundation for communication. We must acknowledge such facts and not stubbornly believe that such things are impossible. I continued: But I know that if a person believes rightly, he will surely be blessed.

For example, someone builds an airplane, but it cannot fly. Would it be accurate to say that because his plane cannot fly, airplanes cannot fly? Obviously not. It is forcibly connecting unrelated things to prove an unrelated conclusion. This is a common error.

Even if the righteous suffer, even if the wicked prosper, what does it prove? Nothing. But I know that those who trust in God will surely be blessed. God's promise stands firm in the heavens; it is faithful. Nothing can negate God's faithful promise. We must hold fast to this, as it is what the Bible says.

When we see others suffering, we can say: If I were you, I would still believe that God is faithful. God is gracious towards us, and He will surely heal you. Encouraging them in this way is the best help.

I have also observed that sometimes, when we pray, the Holy Spirit moves us to say: Lead him to repentance. After repentance, he will be healed. This does not mean that all ailments are due to sin. Whatever the reason, as long as we believe that God will heal, He will surely work. Through your faith, God's power will be revealed. Even if he needs to confess and repent, the Holy Spirit will surely tell you. Do not immediately lead people to believe that they cannot be healed without confessing and repenting.

Many people in the Bible who touched Jesus were healed without repenting; they simply believed. Whatever is not from faith is sin. When we pray for others, we should not apply formulas but rely on the Spirit of God, choosing to believe first.

There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them. (Ecclesiastes 7:15-18)

Therefore, we should not concern ourselves with the righteous or the wicked but focus on faith in God. Be a person who fears God, believing that He is faithful and full of grace.

What About the Prosperity of the Wicked?

I will give you an answer that will shock you: it is none of your business!

What does the prosperity of the wicked have to do with you? We only need to know that believing in the Lord is a blessing. We only need to have faith and believe that God's promises will be fulfilled in us. Even if it is not fulfilled today or tomorrow, it will be fulfilled one day. The prosperity of the wicked is none of your business; it is God's business. But Job liked to meddle in these matters, so he was in great pain, constantly complaining: why did such things happen to me?

Let us not go down this path; let us only walk the path of trusting in God. As believers in the Lord, we know that we have eternal life, we know that there is healing in Jesus Christ, and we know that there is freedom in Jesus Christ! As for the prosperity of others, let us remain silent; there is no need to talk about it. What does the prosperity of the wicked have to do with me? What does the righteous man perishing in his righteousness have to do with me? Let us not complicate simple matters.

Learn to Know God and Receive His Promises

We must learn to know God by reading the Bible. We must hold fast to all the promising words in the Bible.

There is a story in Genesis: Jacob had just crossed the Jabbok River and barely escaped Esau's sword when he pitched his tent in Shechem, but his daughter was raped by Shechem. When such a thing happens, even a person of faith will suffer greatly. But by this time, Jacob's spiritual life had matured, and he had already received the name Israel. Generally, for a father, the rape of his daughter is an extremely painful thing, yet Jacob did nothing. When his sons committed murder, he spoke out and cursed his two sons, and the birthright was left to Judah.

Jacob may never have known why this happened, but no matter what happened in his life, he held fast to one thing: he believed that his faith could turn things around. Because all things are still in God's hands. If something went wrong, it must be something wrong with himself. He should examine himself well and constantly improve himself. Later, Jacob received a revelation that there were things devoted to destruction in his household.

We must enter into faith to learn to know God; without faith, there is no way to know God. Those who fear God must learn to trust God. Even if we do not receive fair treatment in this world, we must know that our property is stored in heaven, and God will surely let you receive it in heaven. When you stand beside the throne of God and look at the things of this world again, you will see that God is a God of justice.

Let us not seek balance in the world. If we look at this life from eternity, we will see that this momentary light affliction is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. If you despise the suffering of this world, your suffering will not increase. If you take the suffering of this world seriously, you will suffer even more.

So today, we must learn to know God and learn to look at the things of this world from God's perspective. God often tests our faith, so let us accept such tests. Until we come before God, we can say: God, I have finished the race. I have fought the good fight. I come before you to receive this eternal crown (2 Timothy 4:7-8).