The Fate Of Dishonest Prosperity is Petrifying

Job 5:3
I myself have seen a fool taking root,
but suddenly his house was cursed.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I have seen the wicked who prospers and his dwelling is suddenly destroyed

New Living Translation
I have seen that fools may be successful for the moment, but then comes sudden disaster.

Job 5:4
His children are far from safety,
crushed in court without a defender.

Amplified Bible
“His children are far from safety [and included in their father’s ruin], They are oppressed and crushed in the [court of justice in the city’s] gate, And there is no one to rescue them.

New Living Translation
Their children are abandoned far from help; they are crushed in court with no one to defend them.

Job 5:5
The hungry consume his harvest,
taking it even from among thorns,
and the thirsty pant after his wealth.

Amplified Bible
“The hungry devour his harvest And take it even [when it grows] among the thorns; The trap opens for [his] wealth.

We all wish to prosper. We all wish to make gains in life. We all won’t mind amassing wealth. We all wish to have the feeling of possessing that which is enough to address our needs. But how do we acquire all these?

We can acquire wealth and prosperity through the long hard route. Wealth and prosperity can come as sudden God’s favor. Wealth and prosperity can come through dubious means, dishonest and corrupt ways. While unbelievers think that the end justifies the means, we don’t agree with them!

The Bible teaches that how you acquire something can affect sustainability. If you acquire something the correct way, God blesses it and protects it and it abides. The means are as important as the end!

How did you acquire your wealth? How did you acquire your position at the workplace? How did you acquire your academic achievements? How did you acquire your monies in various accounts vis-a-vis your official income? How did you get that lucrative highly competitive deal? From the Biblical point of view, the means are as important as the end!

The book of Job tells us that a fool will suddenly prosper. A fool is also translated as a wicked person. They get sudden prosperity. Sudden wealth and position and power and achievements that can’t be explained. There is no merit or clear explanation. The Bible tells us that as suddenly as they prospered will they suddenly be brought down.

The Bible says the curse will go to his house. The wealth and prosperity may be gained dishonestly elsewhere but the curse goes to affect his house. The money may be collected by the roadside but the effect of that act of corruption goes straight home. The qualifications may be fraudulent but the effect goes straight home. The wealth and power may be ill-gotten but the damage goes home. The Bible says that suddenly his home comes to ruin!

Those who have dishonest gain bring great suffering to their children. Their children are helpless when justice catches up with their parents. The many people who benefited from dishonest gains, power, and position will not come to rescue those children. The children will bear the brunt of God’s punishment for the corrupt. Justice in court when eventually served will crush their children.

The ill-gotten prosperity will be destroyed and consumed by others. What seems secure like crops among thorns will also be consumed by others. Nothing that was ill-gotten will be safe from destruction.

For now, it may seem that the end has justified the means, but there is a God of justice who will fix all the corrupt and dishonest persons. The justice that now seems elusive will be established and all the dishonestly gained power, position, wealth, properties, qualifications, etc., will suddenly destroy the dwelling place of the dishonest and punish their children in scary unforgettable ways. Indeed the fate of dishonest prosperity is petrifying!

Dear God, save us from greed. Save us from being blinded by unsustainable prosperity. Lead us to repentance. Give us the courage to reform our ways. Protect our homes and children from such disasters of dishonest prosperity, in Jesus’s name, Amen!

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