I was working for a convenience store last summer and I was told by my cousin that Mr. Nice Guy always finishes last. I don’t understand why\u00a0Mr. Nice Guy always finishes last when he works his tail off.\u00a0Why is\u00a0it that Mr. Nice Guy always finishes last? Is this the way God sees it? or is this the way the world sees it?<\/p>\n\t
The phrase “nice guys finish last” comes from a baseball player and manager, Leo Durocher. This man’s philosophy was “Winning requires toughness, even ruthlessness.” He also said, “Show me a good loser and I will show you an idiot.”<\/p>\n
But long before Mr. Durocher lived, God pointed out how foolish those ideas were:<\/p>\n
“Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.<\/em><\/p>\n
Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.<\/em><\/p>\n
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret – it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth.<\/em><\/p>\n
For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.<\/em><\/p>\n
The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.<\/em><\/p>\n
A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. The LORD knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.\u00a0<\/em>But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.<\/em><\/p>\n
The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives. For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed.<\/em><\/p>\n
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. For the LORD loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.<\/em><\/p>\n
The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.<\/em><\/p>\n
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; indeed I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him<\/em>” (Psalms 37:1-40).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
As Addison Walker noted, “It’s not true that nice guys finish last. Nice guys are winners before the game even starts.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: I was working for a convenience store last summer and I was told by my cousin that Mr. Nice Guy always finishes last. I don’t understand why\u00a0Mr. Nice Guy always finishes last when he works his tail off.\u00a0Why is\u00a0it that Mr. Nice Guy always finishes last? Is this the way God sees it? or…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[904],"class_list":["post-18555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-fair"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11837,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-the-nice-guy-always-finish-last\/","url_meta":{"origin":18555,"position":0},"title":"Does the Nice Guy Always Finish Last?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text Psalm 37 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I\u2019m sure you have heard the statement before, it is well ingrained in our society\u2019s thinking: \u201cNice guys finish last.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Its more modern than you might realize. A baseball player and manager, Leo Durocher, is the one who said it. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He also\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":84551,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-work-in-progress\/","url_meta":{"origin":18555,"position":1},"title":"A Work in Progress","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by David Gibson \"And I am sure of this,\" Paul wrote, \"that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ\" (Philippians 1:6). If we belong to Christ and grow in him, each of us is a work in progress.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":18755,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/would-it-be-wrong-to-use-the-churchs-property-for-a-garden\/","url_meta":{"origin":18555,"position":2},"title":"Would it be wrong to use the church’s property for a garden?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 26, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is it OKfor a congregation to allow members to use the property to grow a garden if they are in need?\u00a0 One example may be a guy who is living in an apartment and has no property. Another may be a family who has a nice lawn and doesn't\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45058,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-overcome-knowing-my-girlfriend-had-sex-with-other-guys\/","url_meta":{"origin":18555,"position":3},"title":"How do I overcome knowing my girlfriend had sex with other guys?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 14, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: There are some troubling things that I have questions about my girlfriend. I have known my girlfriend since senior high school. After she graduated she got into a relationship with a guy who was not attached to God. He pleased her flesh, but he also abused her at the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":39596,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-god-choose-spouses-for-us-does-the-church-decide-who-we-marry\/","url_meta":{"origin":18555,"position":4},"title":"Does God choose spouses for us? Does the church decide who we marry?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 5, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I've been wondering, does God really choose spouses for us, or does He show us the person who will marry us? My church leaders are against my boyfriend marrying me because they say I'm not good enough for him. He is now confused and doesn't know whether or not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":26122,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/am-i-being-inhospitable-not-to-want-my-father-in-law-around-so-much\/","url_meta":{"origin":18555,"position":5},"title":"Am I being inhospitable not to want my father-in-law around so much?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 16, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In this question, I'm honestly not sure if I am being inhospitable, or if I have genuine concerns.\u00a0 Thus why I seek to ask this to you.\u00a0 My wife and I have been married for still a relatively short time, and have a child.\u00a0 My father-in-law lives a couple\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18555"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18555\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}