Quick Riches From Crime

Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 (NIV) – 12 Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him. 13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

There is a strong desire to grow rich and wealthy quickly. It is a strong temptation to seek riches and wealth through any means, criminality included. Our text today addresses riches from criminal activities.

Wealth grows steadily and takes time. Yet we are impatient. We want it all now. The short cuts to great riches are always criminal. Should we engage in crime to get rich?

Another problem is that the faithful people seem to have a hard time achieving comfortable living. The faithfuls seem to struggle. Faithful life doesn’t seem attractive.

Many Bible writer even wondered why the wicked prosper. Why are bad people enjoying life? Why are people who do the forbidden things seemingly happier than those who are faithful?

Job 21:7-12 (NIV) – 7 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? 8 They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them. 10 Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry. 11 They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about. 12 They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre; they make merry to the sound of the pipe.

Jeremiah 12:1 (NIV) – You are always righteous, LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: WHY DOES THE WAY OF THE WICKED PROSPER? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

Psalms 73:3-12 (NIV) – 3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. 7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. 8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. 9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 11 They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?” 12 This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

Same question by different Bible writers, why do the wicked prosper? Why are Dictators living longer than good politicians? Murderers don’t seem to suffer cancer and die. They don’t get misfortune. Why?

Criminals are thriving, but why? They live in best houses, drive the best cars, but why? No one arrests them. No harm comes to them. Yet faithfuls seem to suffer.

Solomon in our text today, addresses this age old question. Is it better to be a criminal and live a better life? Is criminality a path to a better life?

Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 (NIV) – 12 Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him. 13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

Solomon the wisest man to ever live tells us that we shouldn’t envy wicked people. Do not desire to excel like the successful criminals. Solomon is inspired by God to tells us that their success is short lived. It doesn’t end well.

Solomon tells us, it is better to live a faithful life with challenges than a successful life of criminals and wicked people. After all is said and done, faithful people will be better off than the wicked. Be faithful!

Take the long faithful path to wealth. Be faithful and have a little. You will be happier in this life and in the life to come.

Don’t engage in corruption. Don’t use your position to make illicit money. Don’t sell sex to buy clothes, phones and make wealth. Don’t do illegal drugs and sell them. Don’t betray anyone for pay. It will end in pain and regret.

Dear God we pray for a better comfortable life. We pray that our dreams will come true. Make it happen. Help us to be faithful and happy. Save us from envying the prosperous wicked criminals. In Jesus’s name, Amen!

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