Do Not Fret Because of Evil Doers

We are told that more Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in all previous centuries combined. The persecution of Christians continues unabated in the 21st century, with reportedly over 50,000 Christians martyred in 2005, and thousands more imprisoned or tortured. Those who persecute the Godly often persist in their evil without any signs of repentance, or any evidence of pangs of conscience. And one of the things that troubles some believers is that those involved in wickedness seem to prosper---whether they are persecutors of Christians, wealthy pornographers, unscrupulous executives, profane entertainers, high-living drug dealers, lawbreaking lawmakers, or religious hucksters. Wickedness seems to be a prosperous lifestyle, and those Christians who are endeavoring to live righteously can be tempted to be frustrated or angry when they see the wicked getting away with their wickedness. Psalm 37 confronts that temptation head on, primarily by contrasting the end of the ungodly with the end of the righteous. If you believe God, you will not fret when evil men prosper. You are not pleased with their prosperity, you would rather see the righteous advanced, but on reflection, you will not begrudge the wicked their moment in the sun. Far from envying them, you will pity them, pray for their conversion, and rest in the truth that you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.