In the Scriptures, we find that in this life both the godly and the wicked enjoy prosperity, and that both the godly and the wicked suffer adversity. It is wrong to suppose that the godly will always enjoy prosperity in this life and that the wicked will always suffer adversity. At times, God uses prosperity to facilitate the downfall of the wicked. In Psalm 73, the inspired psalmist says that God greases the paths of the wicked with fatness, causing the wicked to fall to their ruin (Psalm 73:17–18). The Lord also uses affliction for the spiritual well-being of the faithful (James 1:2–3; Romans 5:3).
15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”