You know how the statement usually ends, right? One single word, “LAST.” I want to maintain, that is not the case, especially not for Kingdom creatives. Think about why we use that phrase. It’s meant to make us harder, it implies that since nice guys finish last, the way to get ahead is to be, well, not nice—unethical, willing to step on others to get ahead, running roughshod over the nice guys, doing whatever it takes to win. That’s not the way our Savior operated.
He calls us to kindness, humility and love. He invites us to love our enemies, go the extra mile and turn the other cheek. He laid down His life for sinners like you and me, and it looked like He finished dead last, literally, but on the third day the tomb was empty. The nicest guy ever rules the world with truth and grace, as the song says. That sounds like the opposite of finishing last to me. Whose example will you follow?
Let’s bring it a little closer to home. I used to volunteer at a community theater and on several occasions I would hear the director and staff talking about casting decisions. There were quite a few times where a more talented person would be passed over for a part, based on the concern that they would be a relational nightmare. Talent will take you a long way, and a bad attitude will take you a long way backwards. Now I know you will be tempted to mention the divas from the world of entertainment who demand outrageous things and people put up with them because they are so good at what they do. It’s true. I can’t deny it happens, because it does. I will say however, that Kingdom creatives should never act that way. We would be humble enough to remember that our talents are gifts from God that are to be used to His glory. Prima donnas can’t do that, because their behaviors do not shine a favorable light on our God.
In the Kingdom, nice guys should never finish last, and even if they do, didn’t Jesus say, “The last shall be first?” Do your best work and be nice!
AMOKArts 