Do Nice Guys Really Finish Last?

DO NICE GUYS REALLY FINISH LAST?

Proverbs 3:1-12

Leo Durocher said,"Nice guys finish last."

If you want to be a success, get the gold ring, then don't get hung up on being nice

People believe that "straight arrows" cannot make it today. Books like... Winning Through Intimidation

Virtue of Selfishness

We believe the self-reliant, self- assertive are the winners

We are not the masters of our own fate.

It is not true that the good finish last

I have read the end of the book

I have read our scripture.

If you want to finish first it is good to be hard-working, shrewd planning, But the book of Proverbs gives us the path to success... to finishing first.

1. THE GOOD PERSON COMBINES TRUTH AND KINDNESS.

v. 3, Do not let kindness and truth leave you." Magnanimity- do you know that word?

It means "a bigness of spirit, gentleness, kindness, rising above pettiness and meanness, one who is able to overlook injury and fault."

It is exemplified by Winston Churchill who said, "We will be magnanimous in victory."

It is exemplified by the life of Abraham Lincoln who always refused the opportunities to get revenge on his enemies.

General McClellan hated him and was rude to him. He said, I'll gladly hold Gen. McClellan's stirrup for him; if he will only win us victories."

He refused to let the North take advantage ofthe South after the war.

It is exemplified in Joseph's treatment of his brothers.

It is exemplified by Booker T. Washington... (((story))

The magnanimous spirit always combines TRUTH... not overlooking the reality of hurt with KINDNESS... refusing revenge it seeks to show kindness.

James Reston said that we are witnessing the death of civility in our time in America. But good people still show kindness

And God is still true to his promise... So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man

Finding favor and good repute with God... is that not finishing First?

2. GOOD PEOPLE PUT GOD FIRST.

v. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart m1d lean not unto your own understanding, in all

your ways acknowledge Him."

The Hebrew word for trust is to lie face down..... in a helpless, defenseless, vulnerable position.

That is the position we should live in before God.

The Word "lean" means to prop yourself up, to support yourself.. it is the posture of self- sufficiency. • •

The world would see these two pictures and place a "NOT" over trust and a "YES over lean.

God says the truth is the opposite

But God shows the result...

AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT

Is that not finishing First?

. .,

3. GOOD PEOPLE IS GENEROUS.

v. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, And .from the first of your produce."

The principle is whatever you do with your "stuff" it is to be pleasing to God.

You can't do that if you don't give God... "the first of your fruits" GOD GETS FIRST PLACE>»NOT THE LEFTOVERS.

Time, talent, money,

= Give Of Your Best To The Master

But we live in a society that cares only HOW MUCH ... not how?

We are conscious of status, image, and power and all of those rest on $$$$$$$$$$$$ In that world God sounds archaic when he says... Give me the first and best.

(((Story of how we spend our $$$$))) in his sermon.

God promises...

So your hams will be filled with plenty and your vats will ove1jlow with new wine."

That sounds like finishing first.

4. THE GOOD PEOPLE LISTEN TO GOD'S PUNISHMENT.

v. 11, "My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord, or loath His reproof"

God does not just idly sit back and watch us work our way into trouble. He constantly reproves us... or tries.

How? Scripture. Conscience. Others.

But the proud will not listen.

It is backward, or jealousy; Qr unwise, or too risky to listen to.

So they lean on their own understanding, they reject that it is from God, they reject God's way.

They turn a deaf ear.

But the Godly listen, check it out, apply it, learn from it, grow through it.

To them God promises... For whom the lord loves, he reproves, like a father does the son he loves.

God's reproof is proof of his love.

To be loved as a son, by God your father... is that not finishing first. Don't listen to Leo, listen to God... NICE GUYS FINISH FIRST!