
Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People?
Pastor Eric
The question of why good things happen to bad people has long perplexed believers and skeptics alike, challenging the concept of divine justice. From a Christian perspective, the answer lies in understanding the nature of God’s grace and His sovereign will. In Matthew 5:45, Jesus teaches that God “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (New King James Version). This passage illustrates that God’s provision and blessings are extended to all people, regardless of their moral standing. Such grace is rooted in God’s patience and mercy, allowing time for repentance and transformation, even for those who seem undeserving of good things (2 Peter 3:9). God’s ways are beyond human comprehension, as seen in Isaiah 55:8-9, where He declares that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.
Additionally, Christian teachings emphasize that earthly prosperity or suffering does not reflect ultimate justice. Psalm 73 captures the struggle of the psalmist, who is troubled by the success of the wicked but ultimately finds solace in God’s eternal perspective. The psalmist concludes that although the wicked may prosper temporarily, their fate is sealed without repentance: “Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction” (Psalm 73:18, NKJV). For Christians, the promise of eternal justice far outweighs temporary inequalities, as God will ultimately bring all things into account (Romans 2:6-8). Thus, while good things may happen to bad people in the short term, the Christian perspective affirms that God’s perfect justice will prevail in the end.